On February 27, 2025, two U.S. spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Their mission? To find water near the Moon’s south pole. Researchers think this water could be vital for future lunar missions. It might help support longer stays and extended exploration efforts on the Moon.
Dr. Parvathy Prem, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has been studying the potential for lunar water. Although she is not part of these missions, her research is crucial in understanding how water on the Moon can aid space exploration.
One of the spacecraft, called Lunar Trailblazer, is set to map water distribution across the Moon’s surface. It will take some time to collect data, but researchers hope it will provide insights into the chemical makeup and temperatures of different areas. This information could highlight the best landing spots for future missions.
Many scientists believe that the south pole harbors hidden ice deposits in craters that have not seen sunlight. These areas remain very cold, which helps preserve the water in its frozen state for countless years. Understanding these resources is key as we plan future lunar bases.
The second spacecraft is a commercial lander named Athena, created by Houston’s Intuitive Machines. This is their second attempt; the first ended in failure when the lander tipped over during landing. Athena is set to land on March 6, aiming for a location closer to the lunar south pole than any mission before it. A NASA drill called TRIDENT will dig down three feet to collect materials beneath the surface.
Jackie Quinn, the TRIDENT project’s manager, explained that this dual drilling and analysis capability will help us learn how the Moon’s soil reacts when disturbed. For instance, a mass spectrometer onboard will check for gases released from the soil, looking specifically for signs of water or other volatile substances.
Scientists have known about lunar water since NASA’s LCROSS mission confirmed its presence in 2009. This water, whether in liquid or frozen form, could serve as drinking water or fuel for deeper space travel. Establishing a local supply would lessen our reliance on shipments from Earth, making lunar missions more sustainable.
The south pole is a prime target for human exploration, holding the potential for long-term settlements. This interest is drawing attention from various space agencies worldwide. For example, India’s Chandrayaan-2 is studying possible ice deposits, while South Korea’s Danuri satellite looks for signs of hidden water using specialized cameras.
Last month, two more commercial spacecraft launched, bringing rovers and tools for further lunar exploration. Tokyo’s ispace and Texas’s Firefly Aerospace are looking into areas believed to contain less water, but valuable data is still being gathered about the Moon’s environment. Understanding where ice deposits lie will be crucial for supporting future crewed missions.
The prospect of using lunar ice as a resource is becoming more tangible. Experts anticipate that ongoing research will guide the next wave of both human and robotic missions on the Moon.
For more details, you can check the findings published in the journal Nature.
Check out this related article: How Invasive Asian Hornets Threaten Native Insects in Europe: The Growing Predator Crisis
Source link