A recent study published in Nature Communications has shed new light on the moon’s history, revealing two massive canyons carved out by an asteroid that slammed into its far side 3.8 billion years ago. The discovery is significant for scientists and NASA, which aims to land astronauts at the south pole on the near side of the moon.
Researchers used data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to map the area and track the path of debris created by the impact. The asteroid, estimated to be 15 miles wide, passed over the lunar south pole before hitting, producing a huge basin and sending boulders hurtling at nearly 1 mile per second.
The debris created two canyons comparable in size to Arizona’s Grand Canyon, which were formed in just 10 minutes. This finding is exciting for NASA’s Artemis program, which plans to return astronauts to the moon this decade.
One of the key benefits of landing on the near side of the moon is that it will avoid debris from the ancient impact. This means that older rocks, estimated to be 4 billion years old, can remain exposed and provide valuable insights into the moon’s origins and Earth’s history. The study also highlights the potential for future moonwalkers to access ice deposits at the bottom of permanently shadowed craters, which could be used as rocket fuel and drinking water.
The discovery is a significant step forward in our understanding of the moon’s history and will inform NASA’s plans for future lunar missions.
Source: https://www.woodtv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/why-its-good-for-nasa-that-an-asteroid-carved-out-2-grand-canyons-on-the-moon