What can Chandrayaan-1 data suggest about the presence of water on the Moon
Chandrayaan-1 data suggests electrons from Earth forming water on Moon
Chandrayaan-1 data, specifically from its Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument, has provided strong evidence for the presence of water molecules on the Moon's surface. Here are the key points:
- Chandrayaan-1 detected the presence of hydroxyl (OH) and water (H2O) molecules in the thin layer of soil on the Moon's surface.
- M3 observed absorption features in the reflected sunlight that suggest the presence of water molecules in the form of hydrated minerals in certain regions.
- These hydrated minerals are believed to have formed due to interactions of solar wind protons, primarily hydrogen, with the oxygen in the lunar soil.
- The solar wind can carry protons from Earth's magnetic field, and when they interact with oxygen on the Moon, they can potentially create small amounts of water molecules.
- The presence of water on the Moon has important implications for future human missions, as it could potentially be used as a resource for drinking water, fuel production, and agriculture.
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