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An entry image of NASA dynamics and the compound lunar reconnaissance shows a satellite artificially lit in front of the sun. | Credit: NASA Space Center
The future moon astronauts may find that water can be reached more than previously thought, according to a new experience indicating that the sun is renewing the desired resource on the moon.
because the moon It lacks a magnetic field like land‘S, the rocking moon surface is constantly bombed by active molecules from sun; These particles form Solar wind. Scientists have been suspected for a long time, based on Computer simulationThe solar wind helps to make water ingredients on the moon.
High -speed molecules, which consist primarily of positively charged hydrogen ions, capture lunar electrons to become hydrogen atoms. Then the newly formed hydrogen atoms via the cloudy and rocky irrigation to connect with the oxygen, and the formation of hydroxyl and water molecules across the surface, often focus in the permanently shaded polar areas. However, the natural cycle and the ability to renew these ingredients remained unclear. Therefore, to shed light on this process, Li Hsia Yeo, the world of planets in NASA Godard Space Flight Center In Maryland, the experience of the Solar Wind monitoring a simulator drove on two loose samples that were brought to Earth by APollo 17 Mission.
One of the samples was dug from a trench -like trench called Wesex Cleft and the other from the bottom of the small hole in the south of Massif. To remove any ground water, the 50 -year -old samples had been absorbed since her return to Earth, Yiu and her team baked samples overnight in a vacuum oven. To imitate the conditions on the moon, the researchers built a dedicated device that included a vacuum room, where samples were laid and small particles were placed, scientists used samples using hydrogen ions for several days.
Jason McLean, research scientist in NASA Godard who participated in the experience with Yu, said, statement“But it was worth it, because once all possible pollution sources were eliminated, we learned that this idea dating back to the solar winds turned out to be correct.”
An analysis of how the chemical makeup of the samples has shown over time, decreasing in the light signal in the same spot in the infrared – near three microns – as water absorbs energy. This indicates the formation of hydroxyl molecules and water molecules due to fake solar wind, which confirms the long theory, according to the study report.
The team also found that heating samples to the temperatures of the typical moon days is about 260 degrees Fahrenheit (126 ° C) for 24 hours, which led to a decrease in these water -related molecules. But when the samples were cooled for another 24 hours and exploded with fake solar winds again, the signatures related to the water appeared. This course indicates that the solar wind is constantly renewing small amounts of water on the moon, according to the new study.
Yiu said in a statement. “This is incredible to think about it.”
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With the support of this idea, notes from the previous moon missions revealed an abundance of hydrogen gas in the weak moon atmosphere. Scientists suspect that the heating by solar energy facilitates a mixture of hydrogen atoms on the surface to hydrogen gas, which then escapes into space.
The new study indicates that this process has a sudden aspect. The remaining oxygen atoms are free to link with new hydrogen atoms that were formed through frequent solar wind bombing, preparing for the moon for more water formation on a renewed basis.
Results can help assess the extent of water sustainability on the moon, because the desired resource is crucial to all of the support of life and a motive for missiles.
team Ticket It was published in March in the Jgr Planets magazine.
