NASA takes Chandrayaan’s Water Discovery to a step higher

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA has found the presence of water on the sun lit surface of the Moon. The presence of water was found by the spacecraft SOFIA. Earlier, ISRO Chandrayaan 1 confirmed the presence of water in the shadowed places of moon. Thus, NASA has taken the discovery of water on moon by India to a step forward.

Highlights

Sofia is Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy. The spacecraft has found that water is distributed across the lunar surface.

About Sofia

Sofia is a joint project of Germany and United States. It helps astronomers to study about the solar system that are not possible with ground telescopes. The spacecraft detected water in clavius crater. The clavius crater is one of the largest craters of the Moon. It is located in the southern hemisphere of the Moon.

According to the findings of Sofia, the concentration of water in the creator is around hundred to 412 parts per million. Simply this is 12 ounce bottle of water and dust trapped in 1 cubic metre of soil.

However, the mystery of how water is available in the moon remains unsolved. This discovery will be a boost to the the NASA manned mission to the moon called Artemis programme which is to be launched in 2024. it is to focus on lunar exploration.

Background

The payload moon mineralogy mapper of Chandrayaan detected the evidence of water on the Moon surface. The moon mineralogy mapper was developed by NASA.

What is Artemis programme?

The mission will carry the first woman to the moon. The program will prove Technologies that are needed in sending astronauts to Mars. It is to conduct investigations. Also, it will find water and other resources in the moon.

In Greek mythology, Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the Goddess of moon.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020