US astronomers confirmed the existence on the moon of cold traps (Cold TrapS), which may contain solid carbon dioxide. The opening is able to influence the fate of future missions on the Earth satellite and the possibility of constant presence of robots on it. Briefly about the study published in the magazine Geophysical Research Letters, a press release on PHYS.ORG.
Planetologists predicted the presence of cold traps in constantly shaded areas on the poles of the moon, but there were no evidence of their existence. Researchers analyzed the temperature data collected over 11 years by the device Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment on board the NASA LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER interplantation station. This made it possible to create cards of cold traps, which may contain carbon dioxide.
These areas include several foci, focused around the southern pole of the moon. The total area of carbon dioxide traps is 204 square kilometers, while the largest focus in the Amundsen crater accommodates 82 square kilometers of cold traps. In these areas, the temperature always holds below 60 Kelvinov (minus 213 degrees Celsius). However, scientists emphasize that the presence of traps does not mean the actual presence of carbon dioxide in them, and future missions will have to confirm or refute the presence of dry ice.
If it turns out that solid carbon dioxide on the moon is really present, then in the future it could be used as a resource for steel production, as well as rocket fuel and biomaterials, which will make it possible to make a long-term presence of robots or a person on the Earth’s satellite.