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The Moon contains ice water on the surface, but it is not yet known to what extent it is available and whether it could be used as a resource for future manned missions to the satellite and plans for the NASA establish a permanent basis there.
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Two articles published today by the magazine Nature Astronomy provide unequivocal data on the presence of water on the sunny surface of the Moon and indicate that about 40,000 square meters of this have the ability to retain water in so-called cold traps.
Following the publication of the new research, the NASA He offered a press conference in which some of his experts agreed on the importance of the find, although it is still too early to know if this water is easily accessible and could be used as a resource.
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NASA’s director of astrophysics, Paul Hertz, stressed that not all is known about H2O on the moon, for example “if the water detected by SOFIA on the sunny side is accessible for use as a resource”. “.
Hertz was referring Stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy NASA (SOFIA), a Boeing 747SP modified to carry a reflecting telescope and which provided the data.
The expert, who pointed out that water could be distributed over the entire lunar surface and not just in the shaded areas near the poles, said it is important for NASA to know as much as possible about the water on the satellite for the Artemis program. .
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With this program, the US Space Agency intends to send a woman and a man to the satellite in 2024 and establish a stable human presence by the end of the decade, as a point before the exploration of Mars.
NASA administrator Jim Brindestine also echoed the confirmation of the existence in water and in his Twitter account pointed out: “We don’t know yet if we can use it as a resource, but knowing water on the Moon is essential for our Artemis’ exploration plans “.
The chief scientist of NASA Human Operations and Exploration Mission, Jacob Bleacher, stressed the importance of water, not only as an essential element for life, but can also be transformed into oxygen and even fuel, all valuable resources in space exploration. Knowing where the water is on the Moon “is a good first step”. “But we need to know more to understand if we can use it and how to do it,” Bleacher said.
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The expert explained that “it is easier to travel when you don’t have to carry everything you need” and the water, which is “tremendously essential for space exploration”, is also heavy and expensive to carry by. Land. If it is not to be transported from our planet, “this gives the opportunity to transport other important items that allow us to do more science”.
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