According to a new study, astronauts could use hidden compounds in ‘lunar soil’ or crushed rock on the moon to help generate air and hydrogen or methane fuel.

Source: WONDER WORLD/Youtube

Regolith, loose unconsolidated rock, and dust contain iron and titanium compounds. Researchers believe that moon colonists could use this crushed rock to break apart lunar ice or the moisture from our breath in a process they call, “extraterrestrial photosynthesis,” They believe that this process could help achieve a “zero-energy consumption” for extraterrestrial life Support on the moon.

Source: CGTN/Youtube

The study was conducted by a China-based team of researchers who think this could solve problems with living on the moon and cut down the supplies needed.

In a statement, Yingfang Yao of Nanjing University said, “In the near future, we will see the crewed spaceflight industry developing rapidly,” said Yao. “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,” he says, “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.”

While this is an incredible finding and could help in many other ways, we need to remember how large the global carbon footprint of space missions is. According to a study, space missions’ global carbon footprint equals that of some countries. Going vegan for just one week saves enough CO2 to fly to the moon and back! We need to be restrictive about space missions and only conduct them when it is needed.

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