Lunar Rover ‘Perseverance II’ Detects Evidence of Subsurface Water Ice on Moon

A new analysis of data transmitted from the lunar rover ‘Perseverance II’ indicates the presence of significant deposits of water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s south pole, scientists announced today.

The discovery, made on 2025-11-09 at 11:20:00 GMT, stems from readings taken by the rover’s subsurface radar instrument, SHARAD-2, which can penetrate up to ten meters below the lunar surface. Researchers identified distinct radar signatures consistent with large, relatively pure ice deposits within the Shackleton Crater and Haworth Crater. “The strength of the signal is remarkable,” stated Dr. Anya Sharma, lead scientist on the Perseverance II mission, in a press briefing. “It strongly suggests we’re not talking about trace amounts, but potentially substantial reserves.”

The findings build upon earlier observations from orbital missions, including NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which hinted at the possibility of water ice. However, Perseverance II provides the first direct, ground-level confirmation. This discovery is particularly significant as accessible water ice could be a crucial resource for future lunar missions, providing drinking water, oxygen, and even rocket propellant. Further analysis of lunar resources is ongoing; you can find more information about lunar exploration at NASA’s lunar exploration page.

Scientists are now planning to utilize Perseverance II’s robotic arm to collect samples from the identified ice deposits for detailed analysis. The team will also be investigating the distribution and purity of the ice to assess its viability as a resource. The European Space Agency is also contributing to the research, as detailed in their recent report on lunar water ice. Mission control expects to have preliminary sample analysis results within the next six weeks.