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The confirmation of what scientists’ suspected is great news both to future explorers who might set up home on the lunar surface and to scientists who hope that the water holds hold a record of the solar system’s history. The water is in the form of ice that has accumulated over billions of years.
The LCross impact carved out a hole 60 to 100 feet wide and kicked up at least 24 gallons of water.
NASA project scientist, Anthony Colaprete, at a midday news conference said, "I'm here today to tell you that indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit; we found a significant amount ... about a dozen, two-gallon bucketfuls". Colaprete held up several white plastic containers showing how much water was found.
Michael Wargo, chief lunar scientist at NASA headquarters in Washington, said the latest discovery also could unlock the mysteries of the solar system. He listed several options as sources for the water, including solar winds, comets, giant molecular clouds or even the moon itself through some kind of internal activity. The Earth also may have a role.
"If the water that was formed or deposited is billions of years old, these polar cold traps could hold a key to the history and evolution of the solar system, much as an ice core sample taken on Earth reveals ancient data," NASA said in its statement.
Water on the moon could prove to be a valuable resource for space exploration. Not only could it provide drinking water for astronauts, it could be used to create rocket fuel.
NASA's long-term strategy for exploration officially includes a return of astronauts to the moon, but budgetary constraints may halt that for the near future.
NASA releases LCross animation
Cheryl Phillip
HULIQ.com
Posted November 13th, 2009 by Cheryl Phillips
