美国马里兰大学等研究机构的科学团队发现，通过分析月震产生的地震波在月球地下的传播特性，可以有效探测和定位月球表面以下隐藏的冰水。[1]该研究已于2026年7月31日发表在《科学进展》杂志上。[1]地震波通过冰富集区域的传播速度比干燥土壤快2到3倍，这一特征差异为水冰探测提供了可靠的物理依据。[1]
这项研究为即将到来的月球探测任务提供了新的定位方法。[1]中国嫦娥七号任务预计在2026年末在沙克尔顿陨石坑附近着陆，配备地震仪。[1]美国NASA阿尔忒弥斯计划目标是在2028年执行载人月球任务前往月球南极地区，并部署月球环境监测站。[1]研究人员表示，识别月球上宇航员可以利用的材料至关重要。[1]该研究也有助于理解月球在早期太阳系演化中的角色，特别是水如何被运送到月球。[1]
Researchers from the University of Maryland and partner institutions have demonstrated that seismic waves generated by moonquakes can be used to detect and locate subsurface ice deposits on the Moon.[1] The study, published on July 31, 2026, in Science Advances, reveals that seismic waves travel two to three times faster through ice-rich regions than through dry soil, providing a new method to map water ice distribution ahead of upcoming lunar missions.[1]
The technique addresses a critical need for future human exploration. According to Nicholas Schmerr, a researcher involved in the work, "It's crucial to identify any materials on the moon that an astronaut can make use of while they're up there."[1] The discovery comes as multiple space agencies prepare robotic and crewed missions to the lunar south pole. China's Chang'e-7 mission is expected to land near Shackleton Crater in late 2026 equipped with seismometers, while NASA's Artemis program aims to conduct crewed lunar missions to the south polar region by 2028.[1] Beyond its practical applications for sustaining human presence on the Moon, the research underscores the scientific importance of subsurface exploration, as Schmerr notes: "The moon witnessed some of the most critical parts of the early solar system, including how water was delivered."[1]