Think of the day when astronauts will not be forced to bring water, oxygen or even rocket fuel on the ground to the Moon instead, everything is produced on the surface of the Moon. That future is now a little bit closer with the breakthrough by the Chinese scientists.
A group of scientists in China has come up with a method of extracting oxygen, water and energy directly in the lunar soil. Applying intelligent and sunlight-based technique, they could free the water molecules tightly bound on the surface of the Moon and divvy up them into principal elements: oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.
This is not another science project, these are the things that humans have to breathe, live and fly into space.
The researchers have tried this approach on actual samples of the moon taken by the Chinese mission of Chang-E 5 and it has been successful. Although the radiation and extreme temperature of the Moon are big obstacles to be overcome, the new method that was tried in the lab conditions proved to be effective.
What is even better? It is ridiculously costly to ship anything to the Moon, even supplies, as usually it costs in tens of thousands of dollars per gallon. Hence the ability to create resources there and then on the Moon could cut down massive expenses and help to explore space much more cost-effectively.
The paper appeared in Joule and scientists think that this type of innovation will go a long way in establishing a long-term human civilization on the Moon. With China leading in its space objectives, this find brings the nation nearer to being at the forefront of establishing the initial sustainable moon base.
Soon it may not just be the Moon that people visit, but it could also become one of their residential locations.
