China finds signs of water in moon; water formed on moon itself, says scientists

BEIJING: Chinese scientists have found signs of water in the samples retrieved from the moon’s ‘Ocean of Storms’ region. The evidence of water was found in the form of hydroxyl encased in a crystalline mineral known as apatite. Earlier, NASA had also retrieved similar samples.

It is believed that most of the water on the moon is the result of some chemical processes triggered by charged particles from the sun. According to scientists, the source of the hydroxyl in apatite is indigenous. “The Chinese samples suggest that little or none of the hydroxyl in them was from extraneous sources,” they said.

Chang’e-5, China’s mission to moon, had retrieved samples of soil and rock in December 2020. China is planning to launch further lunar missions, including those to study about water on moon, in coming years. China expects that the presence of water on moon could shed more light on the evolution of solar system.