A naukri.com initiative
Guardian
23h
63
Image Credit: Guardian
Space mission aims to map water on surface of the moon
- UK and US researchers are set to launch a lunar mission to map water on the moon's surface using the probe called Lunar Trailblazer.
- The probe will be sent into space from Florida on a Space X Falcon rocket with a two-year mission to locate water on the lunar surface.
- Discovery of water on the moon is crucial for plans of setting up staffed colonies, as water could be used for fuel and to support life.
- While it was previously believed that water molecules on the moon would decompose quickly, recent findings suggest the presence of water, mainly in ice form.
- The Lunar Trailblazer will carry an infrared scanner and a thermal mapper to create a water map of the lunar surface.
- There are theories about how water ended up on the moon, such as delivery by comets or meteorites condensing in cold traps at the poles.
- The mission aims to understand the lunar water cycle and how water behaves on the moon to gain insights into similar worlds.
- The launch will also include a lunar lander to drill beneath the moon's surface in search of water, along with a probe headed to asteroid 2022 OB5.
- These missions are part of NASA's initiative to send robotic landers and rovers to prepare for future colonization of the moon.
Read Full Article
3 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app