Moonquakes Could Reveal Hidden Water Beneath the Lunar Surface

Hidden moon ice may reveal itself through the way it bends and reflects vibrations from moonquakes, ScienceDaily reported on August 3. The technique could help astronauts locate vital water supplies and uncover clues about the origins of Earth's oceans.

How the Method Works

Seismic waves travel differently through frozen water than through dry rock. By analyzing the way moonquake vibrations bounce, refract, and attenuate as they pass through the lunar interior, scientists can map subsurface ice without drilling. The technique has been used to find glaciers and aquifers on Earth; applying it to the Moon is a natural extension.

"We can hear the difference between ice and rock with the right instruments," the lead author told ScienceDaily.

Why It Matters

Water is the most important resource for any sustained lunar presence. It can be split into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket propellant, used for drinking and growing food, and broken down for life-support oxygen. NASA and several commercial partners have made lunar water a strategic priority, and the Intuitive Machines Altus-1 lunar relay satellite - which received NASA's NavCube3-mini payload on July 13 - is part of the infrastructure to support prospecting missions.

What's Next

The team is collaborating with NASA and ESA to deploy seismometers on future lunar landers. Early targets are the lunar south pole, where ice is suspected to be concentrated in permanently shadowed craters. The work was published in the journal Icarus. If the method holds up in deployment, it could dramatically reduce the cost of locating water on the Moon.