Seismic waves traveling through the lunar surface could locate buried water ice for NASA’s upcoming crewed missions, according to a study published on July 31, 2026, in the journal Science Advances. Researchers from the University of Maryland, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of Hawaii found that vibrations like those measured during earthquakes move two to three times faster through ice-stiffened soil than through dry dirt, offering a new way to map resources before astronauts arrive.
Mapping Lunar Ice With Seismic Waves
Right now, nobody knows the exact location or quantity of water ice hidden on the moon. Satellites can scan the surface from orbit, but they only capture the top layer of soil, leaving deep deposits in polar craters completely hidden. According to Nicholas Schmerr, an associate professor in the University of Maryland’s Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and a co-author of the study, frozen soil and dry soil react very differently to seismic energy. Ice stiffens the surrounding material, causing seismic waves to speed up or bounce back entirely like an echo off a wall. Schmerr noted that a well-placed seismometer could detect these changes and calculate both the presence and volume of underground ice.
Did you know? Ice-rich lunar soil causes seismic energy to bounce back rather than pass through, acting much like a sound echoing off a hard wall.
Testing the Vibration Theory in the Lab
To test how seismic waves interact with lunar deposits, the research team used three distinct methods, according to the study. Harrison Lisabeth, a rock physicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a University of Maryland alum who earned his Ph.D. in 2016, froze an Arizona volcanic rock crushed to mimic moon dust, then used X-rays to observe how ice fills the gaps between soil grains. At the same time, co-author Matthew Siegler from the University of Hawaii built temperature maps of the lunar south polar region to pinpoint craters cold enough to preserve ice for billions of years. Meanwhile, Schmerr ran computer simulations at the University of Maryland showing small moonquakes rippling through underground ice. Every test confirmed that ice leaves clear, measurable marks on seismic data.
Preparing for Artemis and Chang’e-7 Missions
The timing of the discovery aligns with upcoming international missions targeting the moon’s south polar region. China’s Chang’e-7 mission carries a seismometer and is scheduled to land near Shackleton Crater in late 2026 near suspected ice deposits. In 2028, NASA’s Artemis program plans crewed landings in the same polar zone, where astronauts will look for water ice to purify for drinking or split into oxygen and hydrogen for rocket fuel and breathable air. Schmerr helped develop the Lunar Environmental Monitoring Station, an instrument NASA astronauts may deploy during Artemis to conduct seismic exploration. “Our findings are laying the groundwork for an observation we’ll get in the next couple of years,” Schmerr said. “No one has physically measured the ice on the moon yet, but we now have a prediction for what to look out for. That’s an important first step.” Beyond astronaut survival, studying ice trapped in shadowed craters for four billion years could reveal how water originally spread and formed Earth’s oceans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do seismic waves find water ice on the moon?
Seismic waves travel two to three times faster through ice-stiffened soil than through dry dirt, and ice can cause seismic energy to bounce back as an echo, allowing instruments to detect its presence and volume.
When will these seismic techniques be tested on the moon?
China’s Chang’e-7 mission carrying a seismometer is set to land near Shackleton Crater in late 2026, and NASA’s Artemis program plans crewed missions starting in 2028 that will feature seismic exploration instruments.
Why is finding lunar ice important for astronauts?
Water ice found on the moon can be melted and purified for drinking water, or split using electricity to create oxygen to breathe and hydrogen for rocket fuel, reducing the supplies missions must haul from Earth.
Want to stay updated on the latest space exploration breakthroughs and lunar research? Subscribe to our newsletter or explore our latest archives for more in-depth science reporting.
Worth a look