Chinese Lunar Probe Uncovers Water Molecules in Moon Samples

Chinese scientists have discovered a new type of mineral enriched with water in lunar soil samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission. The team from the Institute of Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified a hydrated mineral containing up to six molecules of crystalline water, which could make up 41 percent of the mineral's total mass. This finding, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, marks the first direct detection of molecular water within the lunar regolith and includes the presence of ammonium.

The discovery opens new avenues for understanding the moon's evolution and potential resource utilization. Researchers believe this could significantly aid in the development and exploitation of lunar water resources, which is a crucial step toward establishing a long-term lunar station. The team has ruled out terrestrial contamination or rocket exhaust as sources of the hydrate, suggesting that the water is native to the lunar surface. This finding aligns with China's broader ambitions in space exploration, including plans to build a lunar base and send a crewed mission to the moon by 2030.