New Discoveries from the Moon's Far Side: Are We Closer to Understanding Lunar Water?

Insights from Lunar Samples

Cape Canaveral: Recent findings from soil and rock samples retrieved from the moon's far side indicate that this region may have lower water content compared to the side that faces Earth, according to Chinese researchers. They emphasized that additional samples are necessary to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the lunar environment.

The research highlights the significance of understanding water distribution in the moon's mantle, which could shed light on its evolutionary history. This discovery may also reinforce the strategy for astronauts to remain on the moon's near side, as initially planned.

Last year, China achieved a historic milestone by landing on the moon's far side with the Chang’e 6 mission, collecting volcanic rock and soil from the expansive South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the largest impact craters in our solar system. Sen Hu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported that his team analyzed 5 grams of soil samples, focusing on 578 particles using electron microscopy. Their findings suggest a water content of less than 1.5 micrograms per gram, which is on the lower end compared to the near side samples collected over the years.

In contrast, water measurements from the near side have varied between 1 microgram and 200 micrograms per gram. Due to the limited number of samples from the far side, the researchers noted that the extent of this dryness remains uncertain. Hu stated in an email that more samples from the far side are essential for further investigation into the lunar water distribution.

One theory posits that the impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken basin may have displaced water elements toward the near side, resulting in a drier far side. Another possibility is that the distribution of water varies between the two hemispheres.

Despite these findings, they are not expected to significantly impact NASA's plans to send astronauts to the moon's south polar region, where it is believed that permanently shadowed craters contain substantial ice reserves. This ice could be crucial for drinking water, cooking, and producing rocket fuel.

NASA is preparing to launch a mission with four astronauts orbiting the moon next year as part of its Artemis program, which follows the Apollo missions that landed 12 astronauts on the moon between 1969 and 1972. A lunar landing near the south pole is anticipated no earlier than 2027, while China aims for its own crewed moon landing by 2030.