A study published on July 16 in the scientific journal Joule showed that a new technique has made it possible to extract water from lunar soil samples, and to use it to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen and hydrogen. The discovery, made by Chinese scientists, could enable longer space missions, with the Moon serving as a staging post.

The samples came from the Chang’e-5 mission, which visited the Moon in 2020. From these samples, a group of scientists led by Lu Wang managed, in a single step, to extract the water and produce oxygen, for breathing, and hydrogen, which serves as fuel. This advance is significant because it could lower the cost of missions.

Currently, the cost of transporting resources such as fuel and water into space is still astronomical. For example: on average, an astronaut consumes close to four gallons of water per day, and the cost of sending just one gallon is close to $82,000 (approximately 457,000 reais). This is why space agencies are considering turning the Moon into an outpost for more distant explorations of the cosmos.

Despite the progress made by scientists on Earth, considerable challenges remain. One is the extreme temperature variation on the lunar surface, which interferes with the water extraction process. Another obstacle is the irregular composition of the lunar soil, which makes it difficult to predict which elements will be available in different regions.

China’s Advance on the Moon

In recent years, China has achieved important milestones in the space sector. Check it out:

2013 – Made the first robotic landing on the Moon.

2019 – Became the only country to land on the far side of the moon.

2022 – Completed its own space station, Tiangong.

2025 – Managed to extract water from lunar soil samples. This discovery has brought China even closer to conducting space exploration at a lower cost by taking advantage of the Moon’s natural resources.

Sources: Galileu, Época Negócios, and National Geographic Brasil.

Ixi! Você bateu no paywall!

Ainda não é assinante? Assine agora e tenha acesso ilimitado ao conteúdo do Joca.

Assinante? Faça Login

Voltar para a home

Ou faça sua assinatura e tenha acesso a todo o conteúdo do Joca

Assine