China’s scientists spot signs of water in Moon’s ‘Oceans of Storms’

Scientists across the globe have been working tirelessly to know details about life on the Moon. According to reports, China’s scientists have found signs of water on the Moon. The neighbouring country’s lunar lander has detected traces of water ions, and hydroxyl in the samples collected from Moon’s rocks.

As per a recent study published in Nature Communications, Chinese scientists claimed to have analysed traces of solidified lava retrieved by the uncrewed Chang’e 5 mission from the plain known as the “Ocean of Storms”.

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Scientists have found evidence of water in the form of hydroxyl trapped in a crystalline mineral termed apatite.

Quoting co-author Li Chunlai, who is a planetary scientist at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), space.com reported, “For the first time in the world, the results of laboratory analysis of lunar return samples and spectral data from in-situ lunar surface surveys were used jointly to examine the presence, form and amount of 'water' in lunar samples”.

The uncrewed Chang'e 5 mission landed on the Moon in December 2020. It took samples of took samples of lunar soil and rocks.

Interestingly, NASA had also retrieved hydroxyl in samples from Moon several decades ago.

As per studies, most of the water found on the Moon is because of chemical reactions that took place after charged particles from the Sun hit the lunar surface. According to Reuters, China’s scientists affirmed that the source of hydroxyl – apatite is likely to be indigenous.

Following this remarkable discovery, China is expected to launch several other uncrewed lunar missions in the years to come.

As studies hint at the possibility of water on the Moon, researchers are hopeful about finding further leads about long-term human habitation in solar system.

Nevertheless, scientists claim, “The sources and distributions of water on the moon are still an open question with no consensus”.