In a groundbreaking discovery, India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission has found evidence of water ice on the surface of the Moon. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Monday that the orbiter has detected water molecules on the lunar surface, confirming the long-standing hypothesis that the Moon’s polar regions may contain significant amounts of water ice.
The discovery was made using Chandrayaan-2’s Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS) instrument, which is designed to study the chemical and mineralogical composition of the Moon’s surface. The IIRS detected the signature of water molecules at the Moon’s south polar region, where sunlight is scarce and temperatures can drop to as low as -250°C.
The discovery is a significant milestone for India’s space program, which launched the Chandrayaan-2 mission in July 2019. The mission consisted of an orbiter, a lander called Vikram, and a rover called Pragyan. While the lander’s attempt to touch down on the lunar surface failed, the orbiter has continued to operate and collect data about the Moon’s surface.
Scientists believe that water ice on the Moon could be a valuable resource for future lunar missions. Water can be broken down into its constituent elements, hydrogen, and oxygen, which can be used as fuel for rockets and as a source of breathable air for astronauts. Water can also shield astronauts from radiation and be used for growing plants for sustenance.
The discovery of water ice on the Moon has also generated excitement among scientists studying the origins of the solar system. The Moon is believed to have formed from debris left over after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth billions of years ago. The presence of water ice on the Moon could shed light on how water was delivered to Earth and other planets in the early solar system.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission is expected to continue operating for several more years, providing further insights into the Moon’s geology and composition. The discovery of water ice on the Moon is a major step forward in our understanding of the Moon’s history and its potential as a destination for human exploration and scientific discovery.