Whose mission first detected evidence of water ice on the Moon’s surface?
Quick Answer
NASA’s Clementine mission provided early strong evidence in 1994 for ice in permanently shadowed lunar craters. Later missions, including Lunar Prospector, strengthened the case.
The Full Story
The Clementine mission, launched in 1994, used multiple instruments to study the Moon and produced important evidence suggesting water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the poles. Although the idea had been discussed earlier, Clementine helped bring it into mainstream planetary science. Later missions, such as Lunar Prospector, added additional evidence and refined the picture. The finding transformed the Moon from a seemingly dry world into one with hidden volatile deposits.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Moon’s hidden ice, revealed by spacecraft"
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