Chinese scientists have discovered a new method to produce water using lunar soil from China’s 2020 Chang’e-5 mission, which retrieved lunar samples for the first time in 44 years.

Researchers found that the moon’s soil contains minerals with high amounts of hydrogen, which can be heated to produce water vapor.

This breakthrough could significantly aid in building future lunar research stations and space outposts, as it would allow the production of water directly from the moon’s surface.

The discovery is particularly important as China and the U.S. compete to explore and utilize the moon’s resources.

China plans to establish a basic lunar station by 2035, with additional infrastructure by 2045.

The new method could yield 51 to 76 kilograms of water per metric ton of lunar soil, sufficient for the daily needs of 50 people, NBC News has reported.

This discovery comes as China continues experiments with lunar soil samples from its recent Chang’e-6 mission.

Lunar water is seen as critical not only for sustaining human presence but also for producing hydrogen rocket fuel for future space exploration.

Written by B.C. Begley