Chinese lunar probe finds water in moon samples

China’s lunar probe has found traces of water in lunar soil samples, scientists say, as the country gears up for its ambitious space programme.

The Chang’e-5 rover will complete its mission in 2020, releasing rocks and Soil samples From the moon.

The lunar samples “revealed the presence of trace amounts of water,” said a group of scientists from Chinese universities. I have written In Natural Astronomy The Journal was published on Monday.

NASA’s infrared detectors already confirmed the presence of water on the moon’s surface in 2020, and scientists found traces of water in recent analysis of samples from the 1960s and 1970s.

But Chang’e-5’s samples came from “much higher latitudes” and offer new clues about what form water takes on the lunar surface, the Chinese scientists wrote.

sample”Water molecule “It may persist in the form of hydrated salts in areas of the Moon exposed to sunlight,” the researchers said.

Chang’e 5 was the first mission in 40 years to collect samples from the moon.

This follows the historic landing of Chang’e-4 on the far side of the moon in January 2019.

And last month, the lunar probe Chang’e-6 completed its mission to collect the first samples from the far side of the moon.

China: Space Programme Over the past decade, it has undertaken an ambitious effort to catch up with the traditional space powers, the United States and Russia.

it is, Space Station It will become only the third country to send astronauts into orbit.

China also aims to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030 and has plans to build a lunar base. Lunar Surface.

© 2024 AFP