Lunar Soil Has Potential To Generate Oxygen And Fuel For Future Moon Missions

Lunar soil has been found to contain active compounds that are able to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and fuels, according to a research conducted by material scientists form Nanjing University.

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The researchers are looking to design a system that takes advantage of lunar soil and solar radiation. In the analysis of the lunar soil brought to Earth by China’s Chang’e 5 spacecraft, researchers have discovered that the sample consists of compounds that could perform as a catalyst to make desired products such as oxygen using sunlight as well as CO2.

The team, based on their observations, have pitched an ‘extraterrestrial photosynthesis’ strategy that makes use of no external energy except sunlight to create a variety of products such as water, oxygen and fuel to help support human life on a moonbase.?

It is important to note that despite the catalytic efficiency on Earth-based materials being much better, researchers are working to use lunar soil using a new approach to improve design, such as melting of the soil to turn it into nanostructured high-entropy material that can act as a better catalyst overall.

Yinfang yao

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Yingfang Yao, one of the researchers on this study, explains, “We use in-situ environmental resources to minimize rocket payload, and our strategy provides a scenario for a sustainable and affordable extraterrestrial living environment.”

He added, "In the near future, we will see the crewed spaceflight industry developing rapidly. Just like the 'Age of Sail' in the 1600s when hundreds of ships head to the sea, we will enter an 'Age of Space.' But if we want to carry out large-scale exploration of the extraterrestrial world, we will need to think of ways to reduce payload, meaning relying on as little supplies from Earth as possible and using extraterrestrial resources instead."

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