China makes a major discovery on the Moon

A study published in a scientific journal has revealed that lunar soil samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 space mission in 2020 contain traces of water.

This statement testifies to the scientific importance of China’s space ambitions, which aim to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2030.

According to this group of scientists from Chinese universities, analysis of the samples revealed the presence of traces of water, as reported in the study published on Monday July 22, 2024 in the English-language journal Nature Astronomy.

The samples suggest that “water molecules may persist in sunlit areas of the Moon in the form of hydrated salts”, they point out.

China has developed its space programs considerably over the past 30 years, injecting billions of euros into the sector to catch up with the leaders in the US, Russia and Europe. It is also planning to build a lunar base.