"Where there's water there's life as we know it" - NASA.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1227595/NASA-discovers-significant-water-moon.html
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Nasa discovers 'significant amount' of water on the moon
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:43 PM on 13th November 2009
A 'significant amount' of water has been found on the surface of the moon, Nasa has revealed.
The discovery was made after scientists analysed the mile-high plume of debris created by the LCROSS mission last month, in which two US spacecraft were crashed into a lunar crater near the moon's south pole.
It was designed to throw up spray from any ice that was there - and today, Nasa presented preliminary data showing the presence of water in the crater, where temperatures can dip lower than -170C.
Impact: This Nasa image shows the flash of light as the rocket struck the lunar surface last month. Scientists today revealed they found a 'significant' amount of water in the debris
Scientists who have studied the data said instruments trained on the impact plume recorded copious quantities of water vapour. According to one researcher, these were the equivalent of 'a dozen two-gallon buckets' of water.
'The discovery opens a new chapter in our understanding of the Moon,' Nasa said in a statement.
The mission, which cost £49million and took place on 9th October, was watched by millions across the globe live on the internet.
Enlarge
Space enthusiasts in California watched the mission live last month
One rocket slammed into the Cabeus crater, near the Moon's southern pole, at around 5,600mph, and was followed four minutes later by a spacecraft equipped with cameras to record the impact.
Over the last decade, scientists have found some hints of underground ice on the moon's poles, but this is the best evidence yet.
The discovery is expected to have major implications for the future of lunar exploration, and a ready supply of water could facilitate lunar bases or launch missions to Mars.
This is the first image of the moon taken from the satellite on its approach last month. Two Nasa spacecraft then barrelled towards the moon at twice the speed of a bullet
From Dailymail.co.uk
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1227595/NASA-discovers-significant-water-moon.html
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