Scientists say there is water on the Moon
Try easier levels of this lesson: Water on the Moon - Level 4 or Water on the Moon - Level 5.
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Try easier levels of this lesson: Water on the Moon - Level 4 or Water on the Moon - Level 5.
Download the 27-page lesson | More mini-lessons
The reading
Scientists have announced the breathtaking news that there is water on the Moon. They said the Moon may hold water in more places and in larger amounts than they previously thought. The scientists are from NASA in the USA. Based on a detailed analysis of two separate studies, they confirmed the presence of water molecules on the side of the Moon we can see. Ice was thought to exist on the dark side of the Moon, which is permanently blocked from sunlight. However, NASA said it found water on the sunlit parts of the lunar surface. The space agency says it identified a third of a litre of water in one area. This was not enough to form ice as the molecules were trapped in a cubic metre of rock.
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NASA's discovery could pave the way for more space exploration. It could be a game-changer in the quest to explore the heavens. It could accelerate the building of permanent bases on the Moon as it opens up the possibility of there being a sustainable source of drinking water. This could be turned into rocket fuel one day. A NASA spokesperson explained the significance of the discovery. He said: "Water is extremely critical for deep space exploration. It's a resource of direct value for our astronauts. Any time we don't need to pack water for our trip, we have an opportunity to take other useful items with us." That means astronauts could transport materials to be used to carry out bigger scientific experiments.
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