New Approaches to Lunar Ice Detection and Mapping

Abstract

As a fundamental molecule to life on Earth, water is a key marker of habitable environments in the Solar System. Yet after decades of exploration, the origins, abundance, and distribution of water amongst the planets are not fully understood. The recent discovery of substantial water ice deposits in the polar regions of both Mercury and the Moon presents an opportunity to test hypotheses regarding the delivery and retention of water and other volatiles in the inner Solar System. As the Earth’s closest planetary neighbor, the Moon thus may be a uniquely accessible keystone for addressing outstanding problems in planetary science directly linked to habitability. Furthermore, water on the Moon is of great interest to the exploration community, as a resource for astronauts and robotic missions of the future.