NASA is eager to get back to the moon, but why? It all started with the first direct evidence of water vapor on the moon. This evidence was obtained by the Apollo 14 ALSEP Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiment(SIDE), on March 7th, 1971. Earlier this year, Boeing 747SP aircraft SOFIA, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy picked up possible signals of water on the moon’s south pole. This discovery ushered India to send up a rover which landed August 23, 2023, piqued NASA’s interest.
NASA is now taking action and arranging the Artemis missions which aim to get a rover, orbiter and eventually astronauts back up to the moon by 2025. These new discoveries and missions could mean lunar water being used for drinking, oxygen, or some of the chemical components of rocket fuel. This could
potentially reduce the cost and risk of space missions.
Infrared signals from aircraft SOFIA and data from India’s rover are fueling the missions to find water/ice on the moon. NASA’s astronomers have suspected that water has been beneath the lunar surface ever since the Apollo missions, “They’ve always suspected that there’s water but now they’re trying to figure out how much water there
is and exactly where it is and how it’s behaving in the soil” Adela Genoves, one of the Kearns Earth science, astronomy, and geology teachers commented. She already had some background knowledge and interest in this topic, she also did some additional research on the subject.
Genoves is very interested in the topic because it could spark the new generation of scientists. “I feel like this information is very valuable for young people because a lot of things that we’re discovering now may be the start for discovering something later… I feel like by exciting young people we can create the next generation of people who continue the work of science,” Genoves stated. Fun Fact! These missions are called the Artemis missions because the first missions were the Apollo missions and in Greek mythology Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister.
The discoveries and ongoing investigation of water underneath the moon’s surface are both intriguing and influential. With more infotmation this could be a huge step for mankind as we discover more and more about our own moon and the future it holds. This investigtion could also spark more projects on other moons and planets.