最早提出月球上可能有水的设想是在20世纪60年代初,但一直停留在理论阶段,即使60~70年代阿波罗计划采集的月球样品在地面实验室的精细分析也认为月球上没有任何形式的水。美国1994年发射的克莱门汀号和1998年发射的月球勘探者号虽然获得月球上可能有水的一些间接证据,但其探测数据的解释一直存在质疑和争论。2008年以来,新的探测数据和研究成果等多项证据明显支持月球上有水的观点:2008年,阿波罗月球样品中的火山玻璃被检测出含有痕量的水,且玻璃珠内核的水含量高于外环;2009年11月,与月球勘测轨道器(LRO)一同发射的月球坑观测和传感卫星(LCROSS)撞击月球过程中获得的探测数据分析表明,撞击目标凯布斯坑中含有水;2010年3月,在含有磷灰石的阿波罗岩石样品中检测到水;2010年3月,由NASA研制、搭载在印度月船一号探测器上的微型雷达月球矿物制图仪探测获得月球存在水冰的证据。
Assumption that water ice may occur on the moon was proposed as early as 1960s,but it has been lingering only over theory.Analysis of lunar samples collected during Apollo Mission in 1960s to 1970s shows that there was no any evidence of water on the moon.Although some indirect evidence acquired by 1994's Clementine and 1998's Lunar Prospector orbiter supports the water assumption,interpretation of the exploration data has been in doubt and dispute for a long time.In 2008,trace concentration of water was identified in the Apollo volcanic glass,and water content in the core is higher than that in outer ring.On Nov.2009,the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite(LCROSS),which is launched alone with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter(LRO),was sent to crash Cabeus crater to search for water ice.The data acquired by LCROSS show that water occurs on the Cabeus crater.On March,2010,water was detected in apatite-bearing lunar rocks.And the same year,water ice was found to occur on the Moon by Mini-SAR aboard on Indian Chandrayaan-1 orbiter.All these results and evidence have provided powerful supports for the existence of water on the Moon.