Jakarta – A new NASA study is prompting scientists to reassess long-held beliefs about the source of Earth’s water. Analyzing lunar samples-some dating back over 50 years to the Apollo missions-researchers have found evidence suggesting that water wasn’t primarily delivered by asteroid impacts, as previously theorized. The findings, published Monday, utilize advanced oxygen isotope analysis of lunar regolith to paint a new picture of our planet’s watery origins and highlight the continued scientific value of lunar materials collected decades ago.
Jakarta –
New research from NASA is challenging long-held theories about the origins of water on Earth. Analyzing lunar samples collected during the Apollo missions – some over 50 years old – scientists have found compelling evidence suggesting that Earth’s water likely didn’t arrive via asteroid impacts, as previously believed.
For decades, the prevailing theory posited that water was delivered to our planet by water-rich meteorites colliding with Earth billions of years ago. However, Earth’s surface is constantly reshaped by geological activity and weathering, making it difficult to trace these ancient impacts. The Moon offers a unique advantage in this investigation; its lack of atmosphere and tectonic plates means its surface preserves a natural record of solar system collisions.
The NASA study focused on analyzing lunar regolith using high-precision oxygen isotope analysis. This method allowed researchers to track contributions from carbonaceous meteorites, which are thought to have carried water. The results were surprising: only about one percent of the material on the lunar surface appears to originate from these types of meteorites.
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Justin Simon, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and a co-author of the study, explained that the findings limit the role of meteorites as the primary source of Earth’s water.
“Our study suggests that while meteorites did deliver some water, it wasn’t enough to account for all of the water present on Earth,” Simon said, according to The Economic Times on Monday, February 2, 2026.
When this lunar data is adjusted to account for Earth’s significantly higher number of impacts over time, the amount of water delivered by meteorites still represents only a small fraction of the total water in Earth’s oceans today. This suggests that most of Earth’s water was likely already present during the planet’s formation, or originated from other processes in the early solar system.
Lead study researcher Tony Gargano described the Moon as a time capsule for Earth. “The Moon provides us with a record of impacts that we’ve lost on Earth. That’s how we can estimate the extent to which meteorites contributed to delivering water,” Gargano stated.
The findings don’t entirely dismiss the role of meteorites, but dramatically alters their proportional contribution. Earth’s water likely originated from the planet’s building blocks themselves, or from early chemical processes that occurred very early in the solar system’s history – long before any major meteorite bombardment.
More than half a century after the Apollo missions concluded, the samples collected by astronauts continue to yield valuable insights. These lunar materials are proving crucial not only for understanding the Moon, but also for answering fundamental questions about Earth, including the origin of the water that made life possible. This research underscores the enduring value of space exploration for unlocking the secrets of our planet’s past.
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