Reason for China overtaking the rest of the world in the space race revealed: most sought after element on the Moon, fundamental to human life, is in possession of the Asian country

The Moon, long considered just a natural satellite of Earth, has just become the stage for a revolution that could change the direction of space exploration. A country already known for its technological and scientific achievements, China, has made a discovery that promises to shake up the international community and, possibly, redefine the future of humanity outside planet Earth.

After decades of speculation and theories, the China took a crucial step by identifying an essential element which, until then, had remained elusive: molecular water.

This revelation, made by the team of Chinese scientists, not only confirms the presence of water on the Moon, but also inaugurates a new era in the space race, a dispute that is now no longer limited to exploration, but to the real possibility of lunar colonization .

According to Chinese scientists, the discovery was made through the analysis of lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 space probe. These samples revealed the presence of an unprecedented mineral, containing water in its molecular structure. This is the first time that complete H2O molecules have been found in lunar samples, which represents a significant milestone in space exploration.

According to researchers, water molecules may persist in sunlit areas of the Moon in the form of hydrated salts. This suggests that there is a stable water source that could be used in the future to support long-term missions, or even to enable the construction of a permanent lunar base.

Previously, the existence of water on the Moon had been suggested by detections by NASA and the Indian Space Agency, which found signs of water mainly in the form of ice. However, these detections were limited to indirect observations, without the recovery of physical samples. Now, China stands out by providing concrete evidence of the presence of water in a newly discovered lunar mineral.

Molecular water versus hydroxyl: what changes

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the presence of hydroxyl on the Moon. Although hydroxyl may suggest the existence of water in the past, it is not the molecular form of water that we know and which is vital for human survival.

The big difference with this discovery is that we are now talking about molecular water, H2O, which can be extracted and used directly, unlike hydroxyl, which requires complex processes to convert into water.

This new lunar mineral, called ULM-1, is made up of more than 40% water, in addition to containing ammonia in its structure. As Xiaolong Chen, co-author of the study and researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained, This discovery reveals a new way of storing water on the Moon, something that until then was unknown to science.

The impact on space exploration

This discovery is not only a scientific victory, but also a strategic one for China, which has invested massively in its space program. The discovery of molecular water in lunar soil opens doors for the Asian country to lead space exploration and mining, an area that promises to be the next great chapter in human history.

The possibility of mining on the Moon, especially for resources such as water, completely transforms the dynamics of the space race. Water is a fundamental resource not only for human consumption, but also for the production of fuel, which can be used for even more distant missions, such as the exploration of Mars. Furthermore, the presence of water makes it feasible to create lunar bases, which could serve as springboards for deep space exploration.

Beyond the Moon: The Future of Space Mining

As experts point out, the discovery of the ULM-1 mineral, stabilized by ammonia, in a region previously considered unsuitable for the presence of water, may indicate that There is much more to the Moon than anyone imagined. Space mining, which once seemed like a distant reality, is now closer than ever.

The success of the China in finding water on the Moon not only reinforces its ambitions to build a lunar research base, but also puts the country at the forefront of space exploration. David A. Kring, senior scientist at the Texas Lunar and Planetary Institute, highlights that This discovery will increase our understanding of rock vapor reactions in the lunar crust and surface.

With water being such a valuable resource, it is only a matter of time before other nations step up their efforts to explore the Moon and Mars for similar resources. The countdown to space mining has begun, and the China, it seems, is in the lead.

What comes nextr

Now that molecular water has been confirmed on the Moon, the possibilities are vast. The question is no longer “if”, but “when” the world’s superpowers will begin to compete even more fiercely for exploration and mining in space.

What will the next few years hold for humanity? Will we see a new era of lunar colonization? Or, who knows, the space race will expand to other planets?