Scientists analyzing information from three lunar missions have found clear evidence of water on the moon.
Information
gathered from three space vehicles, including India's Chandrayaan-1,
found small amounts of water present in particles that make up the
moon's soil.
The studies will be published in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
Researchers
say water molecules were found by analyzing data from the three probes
which were equipped with NASA instruments designed to map the moon's
mineral composition.
Scientists say the evidence suggests that
larger amounts of water may also be present in colder parts of the moon
such as craters at the lunar poles.
The findings overturn long-held beliefs that the surface of the moon was dry, potentially paving
the way for scientists to one day set up a permanent research base on
the moon.
Next month, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and
Sensing Satellite will deliberately crash a satellite into the moon's
southern pole in an attempt to detect water and ice.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
