Chinese scientists have revealed a “brand-new method” of producing substantial quantities of water using lunar soil collected during a 2020 expedition, as reported by the state broadcaster CCTV.
The historic 2020 Chang’e-5 mission marked the first time in 44 years that humans have successfully retrieved lunar samples. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have found that the minerals in this “moon soil” contain large amounts of hydrogen, which, when heated to extremely high temperatures, reacts with other elements to generate water vapor.
Potential implications for lunar exploration and colonization
CCTV said that after three years of in-depth research and repeated verification, Chinese researchers had discovered a brand-new method of using lunar soil to produce large amounts of water. CCTV reported that this discovery is expected to provide an important design basis for the construction of future lunar scientific research stations and space stations.
This discovery could have profound implications for China’s long-term plans to establish a permanent lunar outpost, as the country engages in a space race with the United States to harness the moon’s resources. NASA administrator Bill Nelson has expressed concerns about China’s rapid advances in space technology and the potential for Beijing to dominate the most resource-rich locations on the moon, Reuters reported.
According to the state broadcaster, the new method can extract approximately 51-76 kg of water from one ton of lunar soil, equivalent to more than a hundred 500ml bottles of water or the daily drinking water consumption of 50 people.
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China’s space race
China’s space agency aims to build a “basic station” on the moon’s south pole by 2035, with a moon-orbiting space station added by 2045. Additionally, the announcement of this water extraction breakthrough comes as Chinese scientists are already conducting experiments on lunar samples brought back by the recent Chang’e-6 mission, which retrieved soil from the far side of the moon.
Fuel source for deep space exploration
Moreover, the significance of lunar water extends beyond enabling a permanent human presence on the moon. NASA’s Bill Nelson has stated that the water found on the moon could be used to create hydrogen-based rocket fuel, which could power further space exploration to Mars and other destinations.
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