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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Are we there yet?

If we’re going to sustain humans outside of Earth, what do we need? Probably some breathable oxygen, water for our spacefaring pioneers, and rocket fuel.

Lucky for us, significant concentrations of ice can be found in lunar craters at the Moons’ south pole. The problem? Extracting it. And that’s why NASA is looking for solutions.

The Moon is the next step to reaching out beyond our Earth. It’s the “rest stop” for humans on our way to exploring the vast superhighway of the Universe.

We’ll have to collect valuable resources already available on the Moon if we want to explore sustainably. We can’t bring everything with us. The Moon’s regolith — soil — will be used to construct habitats, and the water hidden under the surface can be used to manufacture propellants, provide drinking water, and help make breathable oxygen.

To accomplish this, NASA’s “Break the Ice” challenge is looking for innovative ways to extract the Moon’s icy regolith and provide water in extreme lunar conditions.

Terrestrial excavation technologies won’t do it. The challenges of frigid temperatures, low gravity, and distance require…