Moon mystery unveiled: Chinese mission finds water in lunar soil

Soil samples delivered from the Moon by China's Chang'e 5 space mission in 2020 contain traces of water, according to information provided by AFP, citing research conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

An article published in the prestigious magazine "Nature Astronomy" delves into Chinese scientists' unique discovery. As stated, "Unlike volatile water ice, these hydrates are very stable in high-latitude regions of the moon, even in sunlit areas." This discovery sheds new light on our understanding of the conditions on the surface of our natural satellite.

The Chang'e 5 mission focused its efforts on an area near the volcanic formation Mons Ruemker, located in the northern Oceanus Procellarum, in the northwestern part of the Moon's visible side. This area had not been explored by landers until now. Approximately 18 ounces of material from the Moon's interior and 3 pounds of regolith from its surface were collected from this location.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time scientists have discovered evidence of water on the Moon. NASA's infrared detectors confirmed the presence of water on the Moon's surface in 2020. Additionally, traces of water were found in soil samples transported to Earth during space missions conducted in the 1960s and 1970s.

Chinese researchers, cited by AFP, highlight that the soil samples delivered by the Chang'e 5 mission come from a "much wider geographical area" compared to previous samples. As a result, they provide new information on the form water takes on the Moon's surface.

At the end of June 2024, another Chinese space mission named Chang'e 6 delivered almost 4 pounds of research material, this time from the far side of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth. Scientists hope that by analyzing these new samples, they will learn more about the geological differences between the two sides of the Moon. They also hope that among the collected samples, there are rocks showing signs of meteorite impacts.

Beijing has ambitious plans related to the exploration of the Moon. By 2030, it plans to conduct a manned landing on the Moon, and by 2035, it aims to complete the construction of a lunar research base. It aspires to join the United States and Russia as countries with significant achievements in space exploration.