The Chinese Academy of Sciences provided information confirming that water had been found in soil samples from the Moon brought by China’s Chang’e 5 space mission in 2020, according to AFP. A paper in Nature Astronomy reports this unusual finding by Chinese scientists. It says, “These hydrates can be stable in high lunar latitudes, and perhaps even sunlit regions, unlike volatile water ice.” New data regarding the composition of the outer covering of our natural satellite has been obtained.
The Chang’e 5 mission targeted its site of action near Mons Ruemker, a volcanic construct situated in the northern Oceanus Procellarum on the nearside of the Moon in its northwest quadrant. This is the first landing mission to this site. About 18 ounces of material from beneath the lunar surface and 3 pounds of regolith from the surface were picked up here.
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.
According to AFP, Chinese experts emphasize that the Chang’e 5 mission’s soil samples are from a “much wider geographical area” than those from earlier missions. They thus offer fresh insights on the shape that water adopts on the Moon’s surface. Another Chinese space mission, Chang’e 6, delivered over 4 pounds of research material at the end of June 2024. This mission was launched from the far side of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth. By examining these fresh samples, scientists intend to get further insight into the geological distinctions between the Moon’s two halves. It is also hoped that rocks exhibiting evidence of meteorite impacts would be found among the samples gathered.
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.