Chinese Scientists Unveil New Method for Water Production from Lunar Soil

Chinese researchers have announced a groundbreaking method for generating significant quantities of water using lunar soil samples collected during the Chang’e-5 mission in 2020. This mission marked the first retrieval of lunar samples in 44 years, and scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered that the minerals in the lunar soil contain substantial amounts of hydrogen. When subjected to high temperatures, this hydrogen reacts with other elements to produce water vapor, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. The innovative technique could play a crucial role in China's ambitions to establish a permanent lunar outpost, particularly amid increasing competition with the United States for lunar resources. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has expressed concerns over China's rapid advancements in space exploration, warning that Beijing may dominate resource-rich areas on the moon. The new method allows for the extraction of approximately 51 to 76 kilograms of water from one metric tonne of lunar soil, which could meet the daily drinking needs of 50 people. China aims to lay the groundwork for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a collaborative project with Russia, with plans to construct a basic station on the moon's south pole by 2035 and a moon-orbiting space station by 2045. This announcement coincides with ongoing experiments on lunar samples returned by the recent Chang’e-6 mission, which collected soil from the moon's far side. The significance of lunar water extends beyond sustaining human presence; it could also be utilized to produce hydrogen rocket fuel, facilitating further exploration of Mars and beyond, as highlighted by NASA's Nelson.