What did NASA find hidden beneath the lunar surface?
In 2009, NASA crashed a spacecraft into the Moon’s surface in a bold attempt to study lunar water. Known as the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission, its goal was to search for frozen water and other volatiles hidden beneath the lunar regolith. The spacecraft collided with the Moon, launching a cloud of material into space, which was then analyzed by a trailing satellite.
Water Discovery on the Moon: Key Findings of LCROSS Mission
The impact revealed significant findings—most notably, water content. Scientists identified 5.6% water by mass, alongside traces of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and ammonia. However, the impact occurred in a permanently shadowed region, preventing direct observation of the crater at the time.
New Breakthrough: LCROSS Impact Crater Located
Fifteen years later, researchers have successfully pinpointed the LCROSS impact site. This discovery enhances our understanding of the mission’s outcomes and holds implications for future lunar resource exploration. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, highlights the importance of studying volatiles on the Moon.
Advanced Technology Reveals the Hidden Crater
The breakthrough was made possible using two cutting-edge instruments: the Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the hypersensitive ShadowCam on the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), which launched in 2022. The ShadowCam’s ability to capture images in permanently shadowed areas allowed researchers to confirm the LCROSS crater’s existence.
Insights into Lunar Water Origins and Volatiles
The LCROSS crater measures 22 meters across, slightly smaller than initial estimates. By modeling the Moon’s historical inclination and impact patterns, researchers concluded that the ejected regolith was disturbed between 100 and 500 million years ago. The impact site itself has been in permanent shadow for around 900 million years. These findings suggest that the volatiles in the crater may have originated from external sources, such as comets or asteroids, rather than volcanic activity.
Future Lunar Exploration: The Next Steps
These discoveries offer valuable insight into the Moon’s water distribution, and future missions, such as NASA’s VIPER rover, aim to build upon these findings. As lunar exploration progresses, the knowledge gained from the LCROSS mission will help guide the search for essential resources on the Moon.
Source: What did NASA find hidden beneath the lunar surface?
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