Hong Kong PolyU to study water in lunar soil samples

Hong Kong Polytechnic University plans to use lunar soil samples retrieved by the Chang'e 5 spacecraft four years ago to analyze the moon's water resources, with insights expected to bolster research on surface conditions and support further human space exploration missions.

The university obtained a surface soil sample weighing 400 milligrams from national space authorities, as well as a subsurface soil sample totaling 42.6 milligrams, researchers said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The Surface Sampling and Packing System the university developed assisted in the collection of lunar soil samples by Chang'e 5 in 2020 and Chang'e 6 this year.

Wu Bo, associate director of PolyU's Research Center for Deep Space Explorations, said that water exists in the lunar soil in different forms, and the team's research focus will be on the water content in the lunar soil and its origin.

Its findings will offer insights into the formation of soil on the moon's surface and other celestial bodies, as well as the lunar water resources' relationship with solar wind.

He said that finding water resources is also crucial for future space missions. For instance, part of the missions of Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 will be to form the basis for an international research station on the moon. Water resources will help astronauts stay there longer.

Wu said previous research in the area has not achieved remarkable results, and PolyU hopes to fill the gap.