A recent discovery by China's lunar probe has revealed traces of water in lunar samples, improving our understanding of lunar geology and China's ambitious space program.
According to a group of scientists from Chinese universities, the Chinese lunar probe Chang'e-5 detected water in lunar soil samples. The findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy on Monday.
Chang'e-5, which completed its mission in 2020, returned to Earth with samples of rocks and soil from the moon. The discovery confirms previous findings from NASA's infrared detector, which detected water on the moon in 2020. Additionally, traces of water were found in samples analyzed in the 1960s and 1970s.
However, Chang'e-5 samples taken from the higher latitudes of the Moon provide new insight into how water might exist on the Moon's surface. Chinese researchers suggest that "water molecules may be stored in the sunlit regions of the Moon in the form of hydrated salts."
Chang'e-5 became the first lunar sample collection mission in four decades, following the historic landing of Chang'e-4 on the far side of the moon in January 2019. Last month, the Chang'e-6 mission completed its mission to collect the first samples from the far side of the Moon.
Over the past decade, China has invested heavily in its space program in an effort to match the capabilities of the United States and Russia. The country built a space station and became the third country to send astronauts into orbit. China plans to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030 and intends to establish a base on the surface of the moon.
The detection of water in lunar samples by China's Chang'e-5 mission highlights the country's growing potential in space exploration and provides valuable data for future lunar missions.
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