For astronauts to survive on the moon, they’ll need three essential resources: water, oxygen, and fuel. These resources have been an integral part of plans to build permanent moon bases, which have been brewing for years. Life on the moon may be within reach before long, thanks to new technology that can extract water from lunar soil and produce vital ingredients for fuel.
A study recently published in Joule explains how the technology can successfully extract water from soil samples and use it to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and chemicals for fuel. This advancement could enhance the prospects of survival on the Moon, all while avoiding the challenges associated with transporting resources.
Chang’E-5 lunar soil sitting at the bottom of a photothermal reactor. (Image Credit: Sun et al.)
Sun et al.
Human settlement on the Moon will rely on the existence of lunar water, which is like liquid gold ...
