lunar ice deposits

NASA is launching an innovative mission to create a lasting presence on the Moon with a new base located near the lunar south pole. This exciting venture will unfold in multiple stages, starting with robotic explorers setting up the foundation, followed by human habitation.

A new international study reveals lunar water ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions are more stable than previously thought, with 74% of these areas unaffected by impacts. This finding is crucial for future manned lunar missions aiming to establish bases, as these regions offer promising targets for water ice exploration and utilization.

Written Off As Dry & Dead After Apollo, Moon Regained Scientific & Strategic Relevance After Isro’s 2008 Mission Detected Water Molecules, Reshaping Global Space Policy, Allowing For Artemis

Chandrayaan-3 has discovered potential widespread ice deposits beneath the Moon's surface, especially near the poles. Significant temperature variations are crucial in ice formation. This discovery could offer insights into the Moon's geological history and aid future lunar exploration and settlement. The mission provides valuable temperature data, enhancing lunar ice formation models and the possibility of sustainable resource utilization.

How Chandrayaan-1, fitted with a key Nasa instrument, helped revive crewed lunar programme

Four astronauts are set to launch on a historic lunar mission, marking humanity's return to the Moon after over 50 years. This revival of crewed lunar exploration was significantly fueled by the discovery of water by India's Chandrayaan-1, which reignited global interest and provided crucial scientific justification for future missions.

The Moon and Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, may contain significantly more water ice than previously thought, according to a new analysis of data from Nasa spacecraft. “If confirmed, this potential reservoir of frozen water on the Moon may be sufficiently massive to sustain long-term lunar exploration,” scientists said.

With enough ice sitting at the surface - within the top few millimetres - water would possibly be accessible as a resource for future expeditions to explore and even stay on the Moon, and potentially easier to access than the water detected beneath the Moon's surface.

Nasa is exploring the idea of mining the Moon to provide drinking water for future manned outposts when humans are successful in colonising the lunar surface.

Recent studies reveal Moon's polar craters may hold more subsurface water ice than expected, crucial for future missions and potential human settlements, with Isro and international collaboration providing vital data for lunar exploration. The findings build on previous work indicating some polar craters may harbor ice deposits, using radar data from India's Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter.

Chandrayaan-3's Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) achieved unprecedented in-situ temperature measurements at the Moon's south pole, revealing higher than expected surface temperatures. These findings are crucial for understanding lunar thermophysics and potential water-ice deposits, which are essential for human habitat and exploration. The research, bridging critical knowledge gaps, was published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment.

SpaceX launched the Athena lander on its third Moon mission of 2025, marking Intuitive Machines' second attempt at a lunar touchdown. The IM-2 mission aims to explore lunar ice deposits near the Moon's south pole, supporting Nasa's Artemis programme planned for later this decade.

First water, then vapour, now ice. India's Chandrayaan-1 has discovered ice in the Moon's craters -- a finding that indicates the presence of as much as 600 million metric tonnes of water ice on the Moon's north pole.

NASA launched the Lunar Trailblazer satellite to map water deposits on the moon, focusing on permanently shadowed craters near the poles. Weighing 440 pounds, it uses advanced instruments to detect water and temperature variations. This mission aims to identify potential resources for future lunar missions and understand the moon's water, potentially shedding light on Earth's water history.

New findings from the Chandrayaan-3 mission indicate potential ice deposits just beneath the Moon's polar surface in more areas than previously thought. Researchers highlight the impact of temperature variations and slope angles on ice formation, emphasizing the importance of ice for future lunar exploration and habitability.

Contrary to the findings of water in the Moon by recent lunar-impact missions, including India's Chandrayaan-1, scientists claim the interior of the Earth's satellite may be too dry to host life.

Students at the PSG Sarvajana Higher Secondary school in the city, witnessed a participant in the Google Lunar X Prize demonstrate his expertise in robotics, as a robot designed by him picked up a handful of ice cubes and deposited them in the lunar base at the south pole of the moon in 2040.

NASA's Artemis III mission aims to establish sustainable lunar presence with experiments like LEAF, studying plant growth in space. Accompanied by LDA and LEMS instruments, Artemis III marks a pivotal step toward lunar exploration, laying the groundwork for future missions to Mars. Scheduled for 2026, this endeavor holds promise for understanding life beyond Earth and transforming the moon into a potential hub for human activity.

China is advancing lunar exploration with the Chang'e-7 mission, deploying a flying robot to the moon's south pole to hunt for water. This mission utilizes a six-legged, rocket-propelled robot designed to explore the moon's untouched regions, marking a step towards China's plans for a lunar research station and crewed missions by 2030.

Chandrayaan-2 mission, on its way to the Moon, may get a pleasant surprise when it lands a rover on lunar south pole as studies suggest that there may be way more ice water in the region than previously thought. After being the first to gather evidence of water on the Moon, with Chandrayaan-1, Isro plans to take it further by mapping the extent & water distribution.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to land Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's southern pole, an area of scientific interest due to its potential water ice deposits and unique geological features. The mission aims to uncover the Moon's geological history and provide insights into the early evolution of our solar system.

NASA plans to establish a continuous lunar presence by 2030 with a nuclear reactor, crucial for powering habitats and operations during long lunar nights. This initiative supports the Artemis program and addresses the limitations of solar power in shadowed regions. Amidst growing international competition, this project aims to secure U.S. leadership in space and enable future Mars missions.

India's first mission to the moon Chandrayaan-1 will carry two US-made instruments that will look for mineral resources.

NASA's Artemis program is set to explore the Moon's south pole, a region holding ancient secrets of the solar system. Permanently shadowed craters may contain water ice and other frozen volatiles, offering clues to Earth's origins and life's beginnings. This mission aims to unlock these mysteries, potentially revolutionizing space exploration and paving the way for future deep-space journeys.

The Tricolourflashing MIP detached from Chandrayaan to settle on the moon and ushered a momentous occasion in our country's space history.