A new technology developed by scientists in China could help humans survive on the moon.
Scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, extracted water from lunar soil and used it to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and chemicals for fuel.
This can potentially open new doors for future deep space exploration by mitigating the need to transport essential resources like water and fuel all the way from Earth.
Magic of lunar soil
Lu Wang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong stated, “We never fully imagined the ‘magic’ that the lunar soil possessed.”
Lu highlighted that the biggest surprise for researchers was the tangible success of this integrated approach.
“The one-step integration of lunar H2O extraction and photothermal CO2 catalysis could enhance energy utilization efficiency and decrease the cost and complexity of infrastructure development,” added Lu.
Recent analysis of lunar soil samples brought by the Chang’e-5 mission suggests the presence of water on the lunar surface. Therefore, researchers believe that this could allow human explorers to harness the moon’s natural resources to meet their needs while avoiding the costs and logistical challenges of transporting those resources.
However, previously developed strategies for extracting water from lunar soil involved multiple energy-intensive steps and didn’t break down CO2 for fuel and other essential uses.
Technology could help make fuels and oxygen for the astronauts
But the latest technology developed by Wang and colleagues would both extract water from lunar soil and directly use it to convert the CO2 exhaled by astronauts into carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas, which could then be used to make fuels and oxygen for the astronauts to breathe.
Researchers revealed that the technology accomplishes this feat through a novel photothermal strategy, which converts light from the Sun into heat.
The technology was tested using lunar soil samples gathered during the Chang’e mission as well as simulated lunar samples and a batch reactor filled with CO2 gas that used a light-concentrating system to drive the photothermal process.
The team used ilmenite, a heavy black mineral and one of several reported water reservoirs in lunar soil, to measure photothermal activity and analyze the mechanisms of the process, according to a press release.
However, this technology could still face challenges in the extreme lunar environment. Drastic temperature fluctuations, intense radiation, and low gravity could be major hurdles.
Lunar soil does not have uniform composition
Additionally, lunar soil in its natural environment does not have a uniform composition, which leads to it having inconsistent properties, while CO2 from astronauts’ exhalations might not be enough to offer a basis for all the water, fuel, and oxygen they need, according to Chinese scientists, as per the release.
Wang highlighted that the technological limitations also continue to present a barrier, with current catalytic performance still insufficient to fully support human life in environments beyond Earth.
“Overcoming these technical hurdles and significant associated costs in development, deployment, and operation will be crucial to realizing sustainable lunar water utilization and space exploration,” wrote the study’s researchers in the journal Joule.
