MSGID: 1:317/3 6274a494   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Lunar soil has the potential to generate oxygen and fuel    
      
     Date:   
         May 5, 2022   
     Source:   
         Cell Press   
     Summary:   
         Soil on the moon contains active compounds that can convert carbon   
         dioxide into oxygen and fuels, scientists report. They are now   
         exploring whether lunar resources can be used to facilitate human   
         exploration on the moon or beyond.   
      
      
      
   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Soil on the moon contains active compounds that can convert carbon   
   dioxide into oxygen and fuels, scientists in China report May 5 in the   
   journal Joule. They are now exploring whether lunar resources can be   
   used to facilitate human exploration on the moon or beyond.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Nanjing University material scientists Yingfang Yao and Zhigang Zou hope   
   to design a system that takes advantage of lunar soil and solar radiation,   
   the two most abundant resources on the moon. After analyzing the lunar   
   soil brought back by China's Chang'e 5 spacecraft, their team found   
   the sample contains compounds -- including iron-rich and titanium-rich   
   substances -- that could work as a catalyst to make desired products   
   such as oxygen using sunlight and carbon dioxide.   
      
   Based on the observation, the team proposed an "extraterrestrial   
   photosynthesis" strategy. Mainly, the system uses lunar soil to   
   electrolyze water extracted from the moon and in astronauts' breathing   
   exhaust into oxygen and hydrogen powered by sunlight. The carbon dioxide   
   exhaled by moon inhabitants is also collected and combined with hydrogen   
   from water electrolysis during a hydrogenation process catalyzed by   
   lunar soil.   
      
   The process yields hydrocarbons such as methane, which could be used   
   as fuel.   
      
   The strategy uses no external energy but sunlight to produce a variety   
   of desirable products such as water, oxygen, and fuel that could support   
   life on a moonbase, the researchers say. The team is looking for an   
   opportunity to test the system in space, likely with China's future   
   crewed lunar missions.   
      
   "We use in-situ environmental resources to minimize rocket payload,   
   and our strategy provides a scenario for a sustainable and affordable   
   extraterrestrial living environment," Yao says.   
      
   While the catalytic efficiency of lunar soil is less than catalysts   
   available on Earth, Yao says the team is testing different approaches to   
   improve the design, such as melting the lunar soil into a nanostructured   
   high-entropy material, which is a better catalyst.   
      
   Previously, scientists have proposed many strategies for extraterrestrial   
   survival. But most designs require energy sources from Earth. For example,   
   NASA's Perseverance Mars rover brought an instrument that can use carbon   
   dioxide in the planet's atmosphere to make oxygen, but it's powered by   
   a nuclear battery onboard.   
      
   "In the near future, we will see the crewed spaceflight industry   
   developing rapidly," says 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 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."   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by Cell_Press. Note: Content may be   
   edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Yingfang Yao, Lu Wang, Xi Zhu, Wenguang Tu, Yong Zhou, Rulin Liu,   
         Junchuan Sun, Bo Tao, Cheng Wang, Xiwen Yu, Linfeng Gao, Yuan Cao,   
         Bing Wang, Zhaosheng Li, Wei Yao, Yujie Xiong, Mengfei Yang,   
         Weihua Wang, Zhigang Zou. Extraterrestrial photosynthesis by   
         Chang'E-5 lunar soil.   
      
         Joule, 2022; DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2022.04.011   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220505114655.htm   
      
   --- up 9 weeks, 3 days, 10 hours, 50 minutes   
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)   
   SEEN-BY: 15/0 106/201 114/705 123/120 129/330 331 153/7715 218/700   
   SEEN-BY: 229/110 111 317 400 426 428 470 664 700 292/854 298/25 305/3   
   SEEN-BY: 317/3 320/219 396/45   
   PATH: 317/3 229/426