Revolutionizing Lunar Water Production using Endogenous Hydrogen
Key Ideas
  • Prof. Wang Junqiang's team at NIMTE, CAS, developed a method to produce water on the moon by reacting lunar regolith with endogenous hydrogen.
  • Heating lunar regolith with concave mirrors can yield significant water production, with one ton capable of producing enough drinking water for 50 people for one day.
  • Hydrogen in lunar minerals, particularly in lunar ilmenite, presents a valuable resource for water production, energy generation, and oxygen extraction for breathing on the moon.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences, through the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, has made significant progress in the field of lunar water production. Prof. Wang Junqiang's team has developed a groundbreaking method to generate water on the moon by utilizing the reaction between lunar regolith and endogenous hydrogen. This innovation comes in light of previous discoveries indicating the presence of water on the moon, albeit in extremely low concentrations within lunar minerals. The study published in The Innovation showcases the potential of heating lunar regolith above 1,200 K with concave mirrors to produce substantial amounts of water. The findings suggest that one ton of lunar regolith could yield more than enough drinking water for a significant number of people. Moreover, the presence of hydrogen in lunar minerals, especially in lunar ilmenite, offers a promising resource for various applications such as energy generation and oxygen extraction. This research paves the way for future exploration and construction of lunar research stations, providing invaluable insights into sustaining human life beyond Earth.
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