Science & technology

Scientists Extract Water, Oxygen From Moon Soil

Published JUL 21 2025

Story

Above: Full Moon. Image credit: Unsplash

The Facts

Chinese researchers have developed technology that extracts water from lunar soil and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen and fuel chemicals using a single photothermal process that harnesses sunlight.
Independent
Astrobiology
Transporting water to the Moon costs approximately $83,000 per gallon via rocket, while each astronaut requires about four gallons daily for drinking alone, not including hygiene or food preparation needs.
Earth.com
EuroNews
The technology uses ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral found in lunar soil, as a catalyst to facilitate chemical reactions at temperatures exceeding 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. One ton of ilmenite-rich regolith can yield 112 to 168 pounds of water.
Space
Earth.com
Chang'e-5 mission soil samples revealed at least 170 parts per million of molecular water locked within lunar minerals, formed when solar wind protons interact with surface oxygen atoms. This water exists across mid-latitude regions, not just at the permanently shadowed polar craters.
Cell
Earth.com
The integrated system converts astronaut-exhaled carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas, which can be processed into rocket fuel and breathable oxygen. However, astronauts may only produce one-tenth of the required carbon dioxide through normal respiration.
PHYS
Space
While the technology was successful in the lab and could reduce dependency on Earth-supplied resources for future lunar missions, the study, published in Joule, acknowledges that extreme lunar conditions present significant challenges for deploying this technology on the Moon.
PHYS
NDTV

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The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

This is a game-changing advancement for lunar colonization. The technology elegantly solves multiple problems simultaneously — water extraction, oxygen production, and fuel generation — using only sunlight and lunar resources. It's precisely the kind of innovation needed to make permanent lunar bases economically viable.

EuroNews

Astrobiology

Techno-skeptic narrative

While promising in laboratory conditions, this technology faces severe practical limitations that may render it uncompetitive. The thermal insulation properties of lunar regolith, insufficient carbon dioxide from astronauts, and inconsistent soil composition suggest more mature alternatives may prove more efficient in the long term.

PHYS

Space