Produced by: Manoj Kumar
A UK-built thermal camera is launching aboard NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer to map secret water ice deposits on the Moon.
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If confirmed, the Moon’s ice—potentially 600 million metric tons—could be turned into drinking water, fuel, and breathable oxygen for future explorers.
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Trailblazer’s cutting-edge sensors will scan shadowed craters at the Moon’s South Pole, revealing hidden ice reserves in unprecedented detail.
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This washing machine-sized spacecraft is hitching a ride aboard a lunar lander, using a low-cost, fuel-saving route to the Moon.
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Instead of a direct trip, Lunar Trailblazer will use the gravity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon to slowly spiral into orbit over 4–7 months.
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Oxford scientists developed the Lunar Thermal Mapper, one of two advanced instruments creating the most detailed Moon water maps ever.
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Did asteroids, volcanic eruptions, or solar wind create Moon water? Trailblazer’s data could finally reveal the truth.
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Locating usable Moon water is a key step toward building a lunar base and fueling deep-space missions—including future trips to Mars.
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Launching February 26, Lunar Trailblazer is set to revolutionize Moon exploration—offering a roadmap to a water-rich lunar future.
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