Chinese scientists have developed a groundbreaking method to produce large quantities of water using lunar soil from the Chang’e-5 mission, according to state broadcaster CCTV. This mission, which returned lunar samples in 2020 after a 44-year gap, has led to a new process where hydrogen in the moon soil reacts with other elements at high temperatures to create water vapor.
The innovative technique could be crucial for establishing future lunar research stations and space stations. One tonne of lunar soil can yield about 51-76 kg of water, enough to meet the daily drinking needs of 50 people.
This discovery is significant for China’s long-term plans to build a permanent lunar outpost and could impact the global space race, especially as NASA has expressed concerns about China’s rapid advancements in space exploration. China aims to lay the groundwork for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and hopes to have a basic lunar station by 2035, with further plans for a moon-orbiting space station by 2045.
Currently, Chinese scientists are also working with samples from the Chang’e-6 mission, which collected soil from the far side of the moon. The ability to produce water from lunar soil not only supports the vision of a permanent human presence on the moon but also has implications for creating rocket fuel for future space missions.
