Chinese Lunar Probe Discovers Water Traces in Moon Soil

Scientists have discovered traces of water in moon soil samples collected by a Chinese lunar probe, according to findings published in Nature Astronomy. The Chang’e-5 rover, which completed its mission in 2020 by bringing back rock and soil samples from the moon, provided the samples for analysis.

This discovery is part of a broader body of research indicating the presence of water on the moon. Notably, India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission, which included NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), an imaging spectrometer, played a pivotal role in identifying water molecules within the moon’s minerals. Previous research, including data from a NASA infrared detector and analyses of moon materials from the 1960s and 1970s, had already confirmed water’s presence.

The samples from Chang’e-5, originating from a higher latitude on the moon than previous samples, have provided fresh insights into how water exists on the moon’s surface. Chinese scientists explained that these samples suggest water molecules may be present in sunlit areas of the moon as hydrated salts.

The South China Morning Post reported that the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced findings of a hydrated mineral enriched with molecular water, based on these samples. The research was conducted by experts from the Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other local institutions.

The researchers have confidently ruled out contamination from rocket exhaust or other Earth-based sources. They emphasized that the detection of ammonium in the samples points to a complex history of lunar degassing and underscores the moon’s potential as a resource for future lunar habitation.

Furthermore, the findings reinforce the idea that water molecules, as hydrated salts, could remain stable in sunlit lunar regions, which is essential for understanding both the volatility of water and ammonia vapors in lunar volcanic gases. This insight could prove crucial for the future utilization of lunar resources.