Researchers working with material returned by China’s Chang’e-5 mission say they have demonstrated a way to extract water directly from lunar soil and use it on site. Reported in July 2025, the work used concentrated light to release water trapped in the Moon material, avoiding the need to bring large water supplies from Earth.
According to the report, the released water was fed straight into a reaction system that could help generate breathable oxygen and fuel for rockets. The approach points to a closed local-resource strategy for future lunar missions, where astronauts could rely more on materials already present on the Moon instead of depending entirely on cargo launches.
The idea is significant because shipping water into space is extremely expensive. The report highlights an estimated launch cost of about $83,000 for a single gallon from Earth, underscoring why space agencies and researchers are focused on in-situ resource use for long-term lunar exploration.
While this was a research demonstration using returned lunar samples rather than a full-scale Moon operation, it suggests that sunlight-driven systems could play a major role in future lunar bases. If the method can be expanded, it may help support life support needs and fuel production during extended stays on the lunar surface.
