Press release -
Producing water on the Moon is now a reality
Water production on the surface of the Moon is now feasible thanks to a chemical-physical process that allows oxygen to be extracted from regolith (lunar sand).
The experiments were conducted by the Politecnico of Milano and OHB Italia as Prime Contractor, in the frame of the In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) Demonstration Mission, a program of and funded by ESA, the European Space Agency, with the strong support of ASI, the Italian Space Agency.
ISRU (In Situ Resources Utilization) project is working on a long-term programme for human colonisation of the Moon and involves in situ usage of lunar resources.
The research team, led by Professor Michèle Lavagna, used a prototype system built and installed in the laboratories of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the Politecnico, thanks to the different competences available at the University and the integration capabilities of OHB Italia.
The system powered with sand simulating polar lunar soil, produced the expected amount of water, extracting oxygen from the oxides present in the minerals of lunar surface. The thin layer of dusty sand that covers the Moon contains minerals that are also found on Earth, allowing the use of chemical transformation processes known from terrestrial industrial applications.
The ability to produce water in situ and therefore oxygen and hydrogen, is a key step for future human missions to our satellite, as these are fundamental elements for sustaining the life of a crew for extended periods. This production capability also frees future lunar bases from the use of open-loop systems that require continuous refuelling from Earth, simplifying logistics and reducing the costs of transporting materials.
The result obtained by Politecnico of Milano and OHB Italia," saysMichèle Lavagna of Milan Politecnico - "opens up exciting new perspectives in the field of lunar exploration and a permanent and sustainable human presence. It is a process that has innovative elements exclusively developed in Italy that places our Country in a position of international relevance in the scenario of upcoming extra-terrestrial human exploration activities."
"In order to travel into Space and build living bases on the Moon and Mars, we need to create technologies that are ready to support human presence on-site" stated OHB Italia's CEO, Roberto Aceti. - "Producing oxygen in the lunar environment demonstrates how a close collaboration among science, university, research and business can lead to the development of an industrial product with the highest technological value, able to change the scenario of our future, as well as reconfirming Italy's space expertise on the world stage.”
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Politecnico di Milano is a scientific-technological university which trains engineers, architects and industrial designers.
The University has always focused on the quality and innovation of its teaching and research, developing a fruitful relationship with business and productive world by means of experimental research and technological transfer.
Research has always been linked to didactics and it is a priority commitment which has allowed Politecnico Milano to achieve high quality results at an international level as to join the university to the business world. Research constitutes a parallel path to that formed by cooperation and alliances with the industrial system.
Knowing the world in which you are going to work is a vital requirement for training students. By referring back to the needs of the industrial world and public administration, research is facilitated in following new paths and dealing with the need for constant and rapid innovation. The alliance with the industrial world, in many cases favored by Fondazione Politecnico and by consortiums to which Politecnico belong, allows the university to follow the vocation of the territories in which it operates and to be a stimulus for their development.
The challenge which is being met today projects this tradition which is strongly rooted in the territory beyond the borders of the country, in a relationship which is developing first of all at the European level with the objective of contributing to the creation of a single professional training market. Politecnico takes part in several research, sites and training projects collaborating with the most qualified European universities. Politecnico's contribution is increasingly being extended to other countries: from North America to Southeast Asia to Eastern Europe. Today the drive to internationalization sees Politecnico Milano taking part into the European and world network of leading technical universities and it offers several courses beside many which are entirely taught in English.
