Water on the Moon and Chandrayaan the first, collaboratively catalyzing a global lunar rush

Joint Indo-US discovery of water and hydroxyl across the Moon’s surface by the Chandrayaan 1 orbiter, prominently highlighted as blue and violet on this reflected infrared radiation map. Individual images: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Brown University / ISRO / TeamIndus | Graphic: Jatan Mehta17 years ago this week, a paper published in Science announced the discovery of water on the Moon by India’s Chandrayaan 1 orbiter. Changing the notion of a bone-dry Moon as cemented during the Apollo era, the finding had fundamental implications for understanding the origin and evolution of our Earth and its cosmic companion. That water was present on Luna in multiple forms also meant it could be used as a resource for future deep space exploration, offering breathable air for astronauts, water to drink and use, and fuel when its hydrogen and oxygen is liquefied to power longer, more ambitious missions. This potential, combined with the Moon’s proximity making it a technological catalyst, has led to…