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'Large amounts' of water on Moon 'Large amounts' of water on Moon
(20 minutes later)
Nasa's experiment last month to find water on the Moon was a major success, US scientists have announced.Nasa's experiment last month to find water on the Moon was a major success, US scientists have announced.
The agency smashed a rocket and probe into a large crater at the lunar south pole, hoping to kick up ice. The space agency smashed a rocket and probe into a large crater at the lunar south pole, hoping to kick up ice.
Scientists who have studied the data now say instruments trained on the impact plume saw copious quantities of water vapour.Scientists who have studied the data now say instruments trained on the impact plume saw copious quantities of water vapour.
One researcher described this as the equivalent of "a dozen two-gallon buckets" of water.One researcher described this as the equivalent of "a dozen two-gallon buckets" of water.
The 1.6km-high plume of debris was kicked up by the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) last month when it crashed into a crater near the Moon's south pole. The 1.6km-high plume of debris was kicked up by the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) last month when it crashed into Cabeus crater.
"We're unlocking the mysteries of our nearest neighbour and, by extension, the Solar System," said Michael Wargo, chief lunar scientist at Nasa's headquarters in Washington DC."We're unlocking the mysteries of our nearest neighbour and, by extension, the Solar System," said Michael Wargo, chief lunar scientist at Nasa's headquarters in Washington DC.
"The Moon harbours many secrets, and LCROSS has added a new layer to our understanding.""The Moon harbours many secrets, and LCROSS has added a new layer to our understanding."
The identification of water-ice in the impact plume is important for purely scientific reasons, but also because a supply of water on the Moon would be a vital resource for future human exploration.The identification of water-ice in the impact plume is important for purely scientific reasons, but also because a supply of water on the Moon would be a vital resource for future human exploration.
The impact into Cabeus crater threw up a large plume composed of water vapour and debris, which rose quickly. The impact into Cabeus threw up a large plume composed of water vapour and debris, which rose quickly.
An additional curtain of lunar debris was sent out laterally by the impact, and cloud moved more slowly. An additional curtain of lunar debris was sent out laterally by the impact.
Anthony Colaprete, chief scientist for LCROSS at Nasa's Ames Research Center in California, said the large debris plume rose at least one or two kilometres in altitude. It stayed just below the crater rim, which may have prevented astronomers from observing it from Earth. Anthony Colaprete, chief scientist for LCROSS at Nasa's Ames Research Center in California, said a large debris plume rose at least one or two kilometres in altitude. It stayed just below the crater rim, which may have prevented astronomers from observing it from Earth.