DISCOVERY OF WATER ICE ON THE MOON SURFACE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

This paper presents a review of the discovery of water ice on the Moon surface, the surveying techniques, the occurring forms, distribution and amount of water resources, and the migration of water on the Moon surface and its prospects in utilization. The surveying data available have shown that the water resources on the Moon are distributed mainly in the permanently shadowed areas of both lunar poles and water reserves amount approximately to 6.6× 10⁹t. The dominant distribution of Moon surface water ice in the permanently shadowed areas of both lunar poles is attributed to the fact that water on the Moon surface may migrate gradually by way of elastic jumping to the temperature-low areas. This study holds that whether there exists water on the Moon would exert no influence on the construction of any moon base by mankind. It is simple and economic to acquire water by making use of ilmenite reactions in lunar basalts. Depends on new explorating data, if we produce 1t water we need use ilmenite 8.5m³, but we should consume regiolith 80m³.