Japanese Companies Collaborate to Produce Hydrogen on the Moon
Key Ideas
- Takasago Thermal Engineering has developed a mini electrolyzer to produce hydrogen on the moon, scheduled for launch by the end of 2024.
- The mission, operated from ispace's Mission Control Centre in Tokyo, aims to lay the groundwork for using hydrogen as spacecraft propellant and broaden space exploration opportunities.
- The mission faces challenges like adapting the electrolyzer to low moon gravity and is seen as an experimental step towards future hydrogen production from lunar water.
- Ispace's improved lander will carry the electrolyzer, a rover for lunar surface exploration, and is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024 with plans for subsequent missions.
Two Japanese companies, Takasago Thermal Engineering and ispace, have joined forces to achieve the ambitious goal of producing hydrogen on the moon. Takasago has designed a mini electrolyzer specifically tailored to function in low gravity and withstand the intense vibrations of a rocket liftoff. The hydrogen-making machine will operate remotely from ispace's Mission Control Centre in Tokyo during the upcoming mission set to launch by the end of 2024.
The mission involves bringing a small amount of Earth water to the moon for electrolysis, with the long-term vision of eventually extracting hydrogen from lunar water on future missions. Challenges such as adapting to the low moon gravity have been highlighted, emphasizing the experimental nature of this groundbreaking endeavor.
If successful, the mission could pave the way for utilizing hydrogen as a propellant for spacecraft, potentially revolutionizing space exploration capabilities. Ispace's improved lander, equipped with the electrolyzer and a rover for data collection on the lunar surface, is poised for launch in late 2024. The ultimate goal is to establish a moon gas station, enabling extended space habitation and exploration.
The collaboration marks a significant step forward in space technology, offering new possibilities for utilizing resources beyond Earth and opening up avenues for further missions and advancements in space travel.