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24 September 2009 

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Lunar Missions Detect Water on Moon

24 September 2009

Scientists analyzing information from three lunar missions have found clear evidence of water on the moon.

An image from India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft shows the distribution of water-rich minerals around a small crater on the surface of the Moon, 24 Sep 2009
An image from India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft shows the distribution of water-rich minerals around a small crater on the surface of the Moon, 24 Sep 2009
Information gathered from three space vehicles, including India's Chandrayaan-1, found small amounts of water present in particles that make up the moon's soil.

The studies will be published in Friday's edition of the journal Science.

Researchers say water molecules were found by analyzing data from the three probes which were equipped with NASA instruments designed to map the moon's mineral composition.

Scientists say the evidence suggests that larger amounts of water may also be present in colder parts of the moon such as craters at the lunar poles.

The findings overturn long-held beliefs that the surface of the moon was dry, potentially paving the way for scientists to one day set up a permanent research base on the moon.  

Next month, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite will deliberately crash a satellite into the moon's southern pole in an attempt to detect water and ice.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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