In 2009, NASA deliberately crashed LCROSS into a permanently shadowed lunar crater; the mission detected water in the resulting debris plume

NASA's groundbreaking LCROSS mission in 2009 confirmed the presence of water ice at the Moon's south pole, transforming our understanding of lunar resources. The Artemis program now aims to utilize this valuable ice for future explorations. Despite promising discoveries, translating these findings into actionable plans poses significant challenges. Ongoing missions are diligently mapping ice reserves to support eventual mining endeavors.