The Moon was long believed to be dry, but over the last few decades several missions have shown there is water both on the surface and trapped inside minerals. While much more research is needed, he said that heating and processing these materials could supply the "explorers of tomorrow" with water -- or even oxygen -- to help them search "other worlds in a sustainable, responsible manner". NASA's VIPER mission, planned to launch late next year, will head to the Moon's South Pole aiming to analyse water ice