Scientists have discovered traces of water in lunar soil samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 mission, identifying hydrated salts on the Moon’s surface.
This significant finding, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, reveals that water on the Moon exists in more varied forms than previously understood. The Chang’e-5 mission, which collected samples from the Oceanus Procellarum region of the Moon in 2020, supports earlier discoveries made by NASA in the same year.
NASA had found water in sunlit areas of the Moon, suggesting that water is more widespread on the lunar surface than previously thought. These findings are sparking renewed interest and plans for establishing permanent lunar missions by major space agencies around the world.
The presence of water on the Moon could be crucial for future exploration and possibly for sustaining human presence on the lunar surface. This discovery marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the Moon’s composition and potential resources.
