ISRO has claimed a significant discovery in a new research, stating that there is abundant water beneath the surface of the moon.
Knowledge story : Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) revealed that there is a much higher amount of ice accumulated in the moon's craters. The research was conducted with the assistance of researchers from IIT Kanpur, University of Southern California, Jet Propulsion Lab, and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, led by the Space Applications Centre, ISRO. ISRO stated that according to research published in the ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, the amount of ice beneath the surface of the moon is 5 to 8 times more compared to the surface. This suggests that there is so much water on the moon that it is difficult to imagine.
The discovery of ice will aid future lunar missions
ISRO has stated that this information will assist in collecting samples of ice for future missions or in facilitating long-term human presence on the moon. Depending on the presence of ice, selecting the right locations and sampling points on the moon for future missions will also become easier.
More ice is present on the north pole of the moon than the south pole
ISRO also claimed through this review that there is almost twice as much ice on the north pole of the moon as there is on the south pole. Predictions were made during the 2008 Chandrayaan mission that there would be ice on the surface of the moon. Similar claims were made based on data from the Chandrayaan-2's dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument.
Due to water emerging from lunar volcanoes, ice accumulates in the craters
Research has shown that water accumulated in the moon's craters due to volcanic eruptions on the moon's surface 3.85 billion years ago during the Imbrian period. For this research, ISRO and other researchers used seven instruments including radar, laser, optical, neutron, spectrometer, ultraviolet spectrometer, and thermal radiometer on the moon's orbit. It's worth noting that water is a valuable asset for sustaining human habitats. Therefore, drilling machines could be sent by ISRO or other space agencies to extract water from beneath the lunar surface to transform the moon into an attractive destination for settlement over the next few decades.
Why are some parts of the moon bright while others are dark?
According to the American space agency NASA, when the moon was formed, its surface was hardened by molten rock, meaning magma. Over millions of years, these became as hard as rocks, and the entire moon is now dusty and rocky. When seen from Earth, some parts of the moon appear dark, while others appear bright. This dark area, comprising 15% of the moon, is called "Maria," which was formed by lava flows. The remaining bright parts of the moon are called "highlands." The formation of these craters on the moon was a result of collisions of cosmic objects in the universe, causing these pits.
In conclusion, ISRO's recent research findings indicating abundant water beneath the moon's surface mark a significant milestone in our understanding of lunar resources. This discovery opens up possibilities for future lunar missions, including the collection of water samples and the establishment of long-term human presence on the moon. The differential distribution of ice between the moon's north and south poles provides valuable insights for mission planning and resource utilization. Furthermore, the origins of lunar water, traced back to ancient volcanic activity, highlight the dynamic history of our celestial neighbor. As we continue to explore and study the moon, its mysteries unfold, paving the way for exciting advancements in space exploration and potentially shaping the future of human spaceflight.
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