Data from NASA’s now-retired SOFIA telescope has created the first detailed map of water distribution on the Moon.
The map reveals water distribution near the Moon’s south pole. (Video: NASA)
The map, published in the Planetary Science Journal on March 15, provides insights into the movement of water on the lunar surface and offers critical data for NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions.
The new map covers about one-fourth of the lunar surface facing Earth below 60 degrees latitude, including the south pole of the celestial body. With this data, scientists can easily determine how water relates to surface features on the Moon, away from sunlight and prioritizing extremely cold areas.
“By looking at the water data, we can really see the rims of impact craters, individual mountains, and even the differences between day and night on these mountains, thanks to the higher water concentrations in these areas,” said Bill Reach, the lead author of the study and Director of the SOFIA Science Center at NASA’s Ames Research Center, at the 2023 Planetary and Lunar Science Conference.
The new map covers about one-fourth of the lunar surface facing Earth below 60 degrees latitude.
NASA’s SOFIA telescope, also known as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, was retired at the end of 2022 primarily due to budget issues. The instrument was mounted on a Boeing 747 to fly at an altitude of 12,800 meters. This allowed it to avoid 99.9% of the water vapor on Earth, which blocks most of the infrared light that the observatory collects.
By the end of 2024, NASA plans to land the VIPER rover in an area on Mons Mouton, which was studied by SOFIA, to conduct the first resource mapping mission beyond Earth. The results obtained will pave the way for Artemis III and subsequent crewed missions to the lunar surface.
Ultimately, NASA aims to establish a long-term colony on the Moon as a stepping stone for humanity’s ambition to conquer Mars. The new SOFIA map will help scientists identify suitable areas for establishing a base, where water can be converted into oxygen for breathing and rocket propulsion.
