Researchers from Russia and China have for the first time studied in detail the structure of the Moon’s circumpolar craters and found signs of water ice – an important resource for future missions and lunar bases.
Institute specialists geochemistry and analytical chemistry named after. V.I. Vernadsky RAS, together with colleagues from China, analyzed the surface of five lunar craters. These included Faustini, Shoemaker and Haworth, located near the poles, as well as the craters Macrobius and Boss at mid-latitudes. The goal of the work was to understand how areas of the Moon where almost no sunlight appears differ from those that receive normal illumination.
The interest in circumpolar craters is explained simply: it is there, in conditions of constant shadow and low temperatures, that water ice can persist. It is seen as a potential source of water for astronauts and as a raw material for producing oxygen and hydrogen, components of rocket fuel. Such reserves will make possible a long stay of man on the Moon and further flights into deep space.
To study the structure of the craters, scientists used images obtained by the ShadowCam camera on board the South Korean Danuri spacecraft, as well as data from LROC and the LOLA laser altimeter installed on the American Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite.
The results showed that the bottom of all the studied craters is covered with traces of multiple meteorite impacts. The surface has a characteristic “wavy” texture, reminiscent of elephant hide, indicating the slow movement of loose material down the slopes. However, the polar craters turned out to be flatter and smoother than their illuminated counterparts.
Of particular interest were the so-called craters with “lobed” shafts. Their shape, according to researchers, indicates the presence of ice below the surface. Such formations are rare, but their presence may indicate an uneven distribution of frozen water at depth.
According to scientists, the data obtained will help more accurately determine areas of the Moon where it is possible to extract water and build stable bases. New observations bring humanity closer to the moment when the resources of the Moon will become a real support for space exploration.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.
Source: minobrnauki.gov.ru
