Chinese scientists announced that they discovered water in small glass beads on the Moon’s surface. The researchers think these glass beads are the main source of the water cycle on the Moon’s surface and could be used in future exploration. A team led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences examined 117 glass beads collected by the Chang’e-5 spacecraft in December 2020.
Glass beads formed by the impact of small meteorites are common on the Moon’s surface, as the Moon lacks atmospheric protection. These meteor impacts melt the surface materials and turn into tiny glass beads as they cool. These studies have revealed that glass beads can contain water.
One Trillion Tons of Water Could Be Found
Mahesh Anand, professor of planetary science at the Open University in England, said in a statement about the research that they observed water molecules “bouncing” on the Moon’s surface in sunny weather. However, he added that they do not know exactly where the water comes from.
About three to five percent of the lunar soil is made up of glass beads, according to research published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Co-author of the study, Prof. By making a quick calculation, Anand suggested that all the glass beads of the Moon could contain about a trillion tons of water. According to Anand, only a slight heating process is required to release this water, and around 100 degrees Celsius will be sufficient.
Also, oxygen, one of the main components of water, makes up almost half of the Moon, though trapped within the Moon’s rocks and minerals.
Searching for a Sustainable Water Source
The researchers discovered that the hydrogen comes from the solar wind, which sweeps charged particles throughout the Solar System. prof. Anand said this finding shows that the solar wind can contribute to the formation of water in other non-atmospheric bodies in the Solar System as well. These objects include Mercury and asteroids.
The researchers point out that more research needs to be done regarding the discovery of a sustainable water source on the Moon. However, planetary scientist Prof. Mahesh Anand states that this discovery could help “explorers of tomorrow” explore “other worlds in a sustainable and responsible way” by heating and processing materials, providing water and even oxygen.
Speaking to the AFP news agency, an expert says that the robotic probe called PROSPECT, which the European Space Agency plans to send to the Moon, may be the first vehicle that can collect and extract water in this way. The VIPER mission, which NASA plans to launch in 2023, will go to the Moon’s South Pole to analyze water ice. NASA plans to bring humans back to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972 with the Artemis mission.
