NASA has big plans for returning astronauts to the Moon in 2024, a stepping stone on the path to sending humans to Mars. A new paper published in Geophysical Research Letters will help by providing a map of water ice believed to be as little as an inch below the surface. NASA calls this concept «in situ resource utilization» and it’s an important factor in selecting human landing sites on Mars. Satellites orbiting Mars are essential in helping scientists determine the best places for building the first Martian research station.
Credit NASA
