NASA Confirms Solar Wind Creates Water on Moon

A NASA-led study, published in JGR Planets, has confirmed that the solar wind plays a significant role in the creation of water on the Moon. Researchers simulated the solar wind's effects by bombarding lunar soil samples with hydrogen ions in a laboratory setting. This experiment supports the theory that protons from the solar wind interact with oxygen present in the lunar regolith, leading to the formation of water.

The experiment utilized samples collected during the Apollo 17 mission. The simulation resulted in the formation of hydroxyl (OH) and water (H2O) molecules. These findings are particularly relevant to NASA's Artemis mission, which aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon.

Water is considered a vital resource for future lunar exploration efforts. It is primarily located in permanently shadowed regions, especially near the Moon's South Pole. The discovery of water production via solar wind interaction offers valuable insights for resource utilization during extended lunar missions.