Unexpectedly, the effort to provide a dependable source of pure water on the moon may involve nothing more than a Tesco microwave oven. The idea of establishing a crewed lunar base has been around for a long time but has yet to become a reality. One of the biggest hurdles is figuring out how to extract and purify water from the ice found in craters at the lunar south pole. This is crucial because depending on water supplies from Earth is risky and very expensive.
Innovative Ideas to Solve the Water Problem
The UK Space Agency has made a big step forward in addressing this difficulty by providing £30,000 in initial cash and professional assistance to ten UK teams. These groups are trying to figure out how to give the moon a steady supply of water. One of the standout teams, led by Lolan Naicker of Naicker Scientific Ltd, is working on a unique solution that involves using a microwave oven.
Naicker’s plan is to microwave the dirty lunar ice to kickstart the purification process. He explained, “I’m actually going to go out today and get a microwave oven from the Tesco store across the street, dismantling it so that we may use the magnetron in our procedure.” This innovative approach is part of their “SonoChem System,” which uses powerful sound waves to create millions of tiny bubbles in the lunar water. High pressure and temperatures created by these bubbles result in the production of extremely reactive molecules called free radicals, which degrade waterborne pollutants.
The Tough Path to Converting Ice into Clean Water
While Naicker and his team have a solid idea, they still face many challenges. They need to convert dirty ice to liquid water in extremely harsh conditions. The lunar environment is about -200°C and has vacuum conditions, making it incredibly difficult. Before a winner and two runners-up are selected in the spring of 2025, the teams have just seven months to refine their concepts. The winning team will share an additional £300,000 to continue their work. There is also £600,000 set aside for Canadian-led teams to develop their solutions.
The significance of these advancements was emphasized by Meganne Christian, chair of the Aqualunar Challenge judging panel and reserve astronaut for the UK Space Agency. She mentioned that it is early days for NASA’s Artemis mission, which aims to put humans back on the moon. Supported by the European Space Agency and others, it’s crucial to explore how to purify water on the moon now. Christian also noted that we only discovered water on the moon relatively recently, making this challenge even more exciting.
Earth and Beyond: Broader Implications
The Aqualunar Challenge, funded by the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund and managed by Challenge Works in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency, has a diverse range of finalists. These teams are also considering how their technologies could be applied on Earth. For instance, Naicker’s team is looking at how their system could be used in war-torn areas or developing countries where access to clean water is difficult. They are also exploring the possibility of using these technologies on other space missions.
Christian said that these new technologies might be modified for application on Mars and other planets. Knowing that there is water ice on Mars, these innovations could be crucial for future space exploration.
Naicker’s vision extends beyond just lunar water purification. He believes that their technology could make a significant impact on Earth. “We could scale up the system, place it on a van, and take it to war-torn regions,” he explained. “We could also create smaller devices for developing countries where access to clean water is a significant challenge.”
Christian added that the aim is to use these new technologies on other space missions with water ice. “For instance, we know there’s water ice on Mars. So, these technologies could definitely be adapted for use on Mars and other planetary bodies, wherever our future missions may take us,” she said.
The quest to create a reliable clean water supply on the moon is full of challenges but also holds great promise. The creative ideas from these innovative teams might not only make lunar bases possible but could also provide solutions for water purification on Earth and other planets. This groundbreaking work could revolutionize how we think about water resources in space and on our home planet.
