On October 26, 2020, NASA announced two landmark discoveries about the Moon. One confirms water ice locked in polar "cold traps," with profound implications for the Artemis program.
Just hours earlier, NASA verified water in a sunlit lunar region for the first time. But that's not all. Drawing on research from the University of Colorado Boulder, the agency revealed that these "cold traps" are far more widespread across the lunar surface than previously estimated. But what exactly are they?
"Cold traps" are permanently shadowed regions on the lunar surface—some untouched by sunlight for billions of years. Missions like NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have shown these areas can preserve water as ice. A new study in Nature Astronomy reveals their abundance exceeds expectations.
Analyzing high-resolution LRO data, researchers estimate about 40,000 square kilometers of polar lunar terrain features these persistent shadows in diverse forms. These zones could theoretically host substantial ice deposits.
NASA's Artemis program targets astronaut returns by 2024, shifting beyond Apollo-era flags-and-footprints to sustainable lunar presence.
Partnering with international collaborators, NASA is developing the Lunar Gateway—a mini-station in lunar orbit for extended missions and research.
Long-term plans include a permanent lunar surface base. While initial water supplies can launch from Earth, space transport costs are prohibitive.
Ultimately, in-situ resource utilization is key: extracting local water to produce drinking water, breathable oxygen, or rocket propellant.
We're years from viability—at least a decade—but this paves the way for enduring lunar settlements. Accessibility remains unproven, as confirming ice requires boots-on-the-ground or rover missions.
Researchers can't yet verify ice in these traps; direct exploration is essential.
