Moon Mineralogy Mapper

The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³), an instrument aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe, was designed to study the Moon's surface composition. Launched in 2008, M³ used visible and infrared light to identify signatures of various minerals and found evidence of water and hydroxyl radicals on the lunar surface. It also detected water originating from beneath the surface in a crater near the Moon's equator.1

Other missions have also contributed to understanding lunar mineralogy. NASA's Lunar Prospector (1998-1999) used a neutron spectrometer to detect hydrogen, indicating the presence of water ice at the lunar poles. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (launched 2009) has mapped the Moon's surface, aiding in site selection for future landers and searching for resources like water. These missions have significantly advanced our knowledge of the Moon's geological makeup and potential resources.23