Putting to rest claims of water being present on the moon, China's first lunar probe Chang'e 3, named after the goddess of the moon in Chinese, has revealed data confirming for the first time that there is no water on the moon.

The data sent back to the Earth by China's first lunar probe contradicts previous speculations that there is water on the moon, China Central Television (CCTV）reported.

Like Us on Facebook

Chang'e 3's optical telescope discovered that no water exists on the moon based on data gathered from the moisture content on the surface of an ancient lunar "sea" known as Mare Imbrium ("the Sea of Rains").

"We got a figure so low that we have never seen before," said Wei Jianyan, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The result is in line with the expectations of experts. When astronauts from the Apollo walked on the lunar surface in 1969, they brought back rock samples. Scientists found out that none of the water-bearing minerals on Earth were present in them. However, Chang'e 3 for the first time in the history of mankind has confirmed that is no water on the moon.

Phys.org reported that several developments had reinvigorated the discussion in the recent past especially the analysis of volcanic gasses in the samples, which hinted to the presence of water in the moon's interior

Several lunar missions have been launched in the past using neutron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy to search for water. However, they came back with mixed conclusions or ambiguous identification of water.

Chang'e 3 has refuted the claim altogether in addition to achieving many feats in the scientific field. It drew the first geological section map of the moon and found a lunar basaltic rock, which can be instrumental in revealing information about the evolution of the moon.

It also conducted the first survey of the celestial body above the North Pole of the moon. This can help astronomers in the future to perform comparison studies. Additionally, Chang'e 3 also obtained the first images of the Earth's plasmasphere.

TagsLunar Exploration, lunar mission, MX-1 lunar lander spacecraft, Chinese Lunar Exploration