Moon Water Discovery from Apollo 15 Samples May Change Lunar Formation Theories
Scientists have recently discovered small traces of water from samples brought back from the moon by the Apollo 15 mission that took place in the 1970's.
The research was published on Sunday in the journal Nature Geoscience that there is "native" water on the moon based on new analysis of lunar samples.
Prevailing theories hold that the moon was created when a Mars-sized body crashed into the young Earth and broke off debris that eventually coalesced into a new entity. In the process, much of the water would have evaporated into space, leaving Earth's satellite very dry.
The study was led by Hejiu Hui, an engineering researcher at the University of Notre Dame, who told SPACE.com that the new evidence suggests that the interior of the moon may have been damp during its early years meaning the previous theories need to be revisited.
"I still think the impact scenario is the best formation scenario for the moon, but we need to reconcile the theory of hydrogen," Hui said.
Scientists developed new methods to look for tiny concentrations of water in glass beads that are thought to have been formed by volcanic eruptions in the moon's early days.
The lunar water sample was compared to rock samples from Earth in order to verify that the liquid was native to the moon.
Paul Warren, a UCLA cosmochemist, was quoted by The Los Angeles Times that the latest research results will force scientists to reconsider that water was likely formed by a process previously unknown for the creation of Earth's satellite.
"It's thought that the moon's formation involved the materials getting very hot," said Warren, who was not involved in the new study. "It's usually assumed that little water would have survived through that."
Warren added that it may be important for any potential future lunar colonists to use the liquid to survive.
"Someday, when we put men on the moon in a more permanent way, we might need that water," Warren said.
