The quest to make the Moon a sustainable habitat for humans has taken a significant leap forward. Chinese scientists are now spearheading efforts to establish a mechanism for producing water on the Moon using lunar soil, a development that could be crucial for future lunar habitats.
Water is an essential component for human survival, and its availability on the Moon has been a focal point for scientists. With the discovery of some signs of water, researchers are now attempting to produce it on the Moon to support human life.
Professor WANG Junqiang, from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), leads a team of scientists who have developed an innovative method to create water from lunar soil.
The science behind lunar water extraction
Researchers have formulated a strategy for large-scale water production on the lunar surface using a unique chemical reaction between endogenous hydrogen and lunar regolith. This reaction is designed to help extract drinking water from the Moon’s soil.
“We used lunar regolith samples brought back by the Chang’E-5 mission in our study, trying to find a way to produce water on the Moon,” said Professor WANG, emphasizing the importance of using authentic lunar material to ensure the reliability of their experiment.
Experimental success
In their experiments, scientists heated lunar regolith samples above 1,200 K using specially designed concave mirrors. This process led to the creation of one gram of molten lunar regolith, capable of producing approximately 51 to 76 milligrams of water.
Based on this method, one tonne of lunar regolith can yield more than 50 kilograms of water, equivalent to a hundred 500-ml bottles of drinking water. This amount could provide drinking water for 50 people for an entire day, underscoring the potential for sustaining human life on the Moon.
Lunar ilmenite (FeTiO3), an abundant mineral in lunar regolith, plays a crucial role in water extraction. The mineral was found to contain the highest concentration of solar wind-implanted hydrogen, making it a key component in the water production process.
Beyond water: Oxygen and renewable energy
The scientists have also noted that the water generated from lunar soil can be electrochemically decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. This process can provide both breathable air and renewable energy sources for future lunar inhabitants, further enhancing the feasibility of a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
China’s innovative approach to producing drinking water from lunar soil marks a significant milestone in the journey towards making the Moon a viable habitat for humans. This breakthrough could pave the way for further advancements in lunar exploration and habitation, bringing humanity one step closer to living beyond Earth.