Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Science and Engineering have outlined a scalable method to produce water directly on the Moon, presenting findings that could transform in-situ resource utilization for future lunar missions. The work, published in a peer-reviewed science magazine, describes a process designed for industrial-scale water generation using regolith as the primary feedstock.
Past lunar missions, including Apollo and Chang’e 5, established that water is present on the Moon in detectable quantities. However, the moisture content within lunar minerals is very low, typically ranging from 0.0001% to 0.02%. This has been a fundamental challenge for extracting usable water at site while minimizing energy input. The new approach leverages this information, presenting a pathway to concentrate and recover water from rock and mineral matter through controlled heating.
The researchers report that when lunar regolith is heated to temperatures above 926°C using concave mirrors to focus solar energy, one gram of molten rock can yield between 51 and 76 milligrams of water. This finding translates into a practical production rate: about one tonne of regolith could yield more than 50 kilograms of water. In daily terms, this amount is roughly equivalent to one hundred 500 ml bottles and would be sufficient to sustain around fifty people for a full day, assuming standard hydration needs.
Among the lunar minerals examined, ilmenite showed the highest hydrogen content among the five major soil minerals. This abundance is attributed to its distinctive crystal lattice that includes sub-nanometer channels, which facilitate hydrogen storage and release under heat. The behavior of hydrogen in these minerals appears to be a key factor driving water generation during the heating process, suggesting that specific mineral types in the regolith play a pivotal role in optimizing yield.
Experimental results indicate that hydrogen bound within lunar minerals can act as a central source for water production when heated. The water produced in this manner has practical applications for life support, including drinking water and irrigation for any plant experiments conducted on future missions. The broader implication is a resource cycle where water is produced on site and then reused for crew consumption and agricultural needs.
Beyond direct water recovery, the captured liquid can be subjected to electrolysis to separate it into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can be used as a clean energy carrier, while oxygen serves as essential breathable air for astronauts and as an oxidizer for various life-support systems. The researchers emphasize that integrating water production with energy generation and life-support logistics could reduce the need for frequent launches from Earth, contributing to mission resilience and cost efficiency.
The national program in lunar materials science had previously identified the presence of water within lunar minerals or associated materials, and this latest work builds on that foundation. The cumulative knowledge supports a broader strategy for sustainable lunar exploration, where in-situ resources mitigate supply chain constraints and enable longer, more autonomous operations on the Moon.