Upon analyzing data gathered by the impact of the LCROSS spacecraft into the south polar region of the Moon, NASA scientists have determined there is not only water on the Moon, but there is more water than expected. The discovery completely changes our view of the Moon, and bears directly on the future of lunar exploration.
The Moon is still an extremely dry place, but not as dry as the driest deserts on Earth, for example-- an extraordinary shift from the view developed after studying Apollo samples that the lunar surface was bone dry. A significant amount of water ice at or near the lunar surface suggests there's enough to provide drinking water to a lunar base, produce rocket fuel by breaking the water down into its constituent components of hydrogen and oxygen, and to provide a radiation shield for the base. Water, it turns out, is very good at blocking harmful radiation.
The Obama administration is currently considering what the next goal of NASA's manned spaceflight program should be, and how that goal should be pursued. The confirmation of so much lunar water could be the factor that tips the decision towards establishing a base on the Moon and structuring it to be a springboard to the rest of the Solar System.
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