Water water anywhere?

Adaptive Optics   (ESO photo)

As a steppingstone to Mars, as well as a resource in itself, Earth’s moon is certainly tempting.  A lunar presence of water can make it even more tempting.

If astronauts had to lug their own water to the moon, flights would be a lot more expensive.  NASA is therefore launching a Lunar Flashlight, which will beam lasers into the moon’s coldest craters with hopes of discovering water ice there.

These "near-infrared" beams can be “readily absorbed by water,” but not by rock.  If water is present within the craters, far less light will be reflected back.  Scientists can therefore estimate whether water is there. 

Resources

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-cubesat-will-shine-a-laser-light-on-the-moons-darkest-craters 

Copyright April 29, 2020 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved