Water-rich soil could support astronauts on the moon
Last year, a rocket and probe smashed into a lunar crater, kicking up large amounts of rock and dust that revealed many chemical compounds and about 155 kg of water vapour and ice, much more than was expected. A new analysis suggests the lunar regolith (soil) at the impact site contains 5.6 per cent by weight of water-ice. In the 10-km region around the impact site, that would be the equivalent about one billion gallons of water, one scientist estimated. They also found metals like sodium and mercury, and a trace amount of silver.