1 . New observations of the Moon show that lunar water may be more accessible than originally thought. The new data is particularly exciting for NASA, which hopes to make use of the Moon’s resources — especially water ice existing in the soil — to help future astronauts live and work on the lunar surface.
In one study, researchers discovered water directly on the lunar surface, finding the molecule(分子) on areas of the Moon lighted by the Sun. A second study speculates （推测）that water ice might be trapped in tiny areas or small holes spread all over the Moon’s surface, making water more abundant (大量的) and more accessible than we could have imagined. The two studies were published in the journal Nature.
This isn’t the first time water has been discovered on the Moon. But the only water we’ve been able to find until now is really difficult to reach. It seems to be primarily located in large holes at the lunar south pole that are in continuous shadow. The freezing holes are dangerously cold — possibly reaching -400 ℉ — making them almost impossible to access with modern technology.
The research published today raises the possibility that astronauts can find water in other areas of the Moon that are far less deadly. “If we find that it’s abundant enough in certain locations, it would be easier to access versus going into these very cold, very dark places,” Casey Honniball, an expert at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and lead author on one of the studies, tells The Verge.
It seems to be good news for NASA. But there are still a lot of unknowns related to this research. Though the first study discovered water, the researchers didn’t find a lot. Besides, if the water is existing in the lunar dirt as expected, it’s going to take a lot of work to get it. “The method to get that water would be to melt the glass, so that the water can be released,” Honniball says. “This is a difficult process, compared to some other methods.”
1. Where can we read about the new studies？
| A．From NASA. | B．In The Verge. |
| C．From Space Flight Center. | D．In the journal Nature. |
| A．The only water found is located on areas lighted by the Sun. |
| B．The deadly cold situation stops people from accessing the holes. |
| C．It is the first time that people have found water on the Moon. |
| D．It can reach a temperature of -400 ℃ in the holes. |
| A．Great efforts will be needed to melt the glass. |
| B．There is not enough water on the Moon. |
| C．We don’t know where to find the water. |
| D．We don’t know how to get the water. |
| A．NASA plans to send astronauts to the Moon. |
| B．A lot of unknowns exist in making use of the Moon. |
| C．Using water on the Moon will be key to a future lunar base. |
| D．Water ice on the Moon may be easier to reach than we thought. |
