Harvard-Smithsonian Study Reveals Challenges of Building a City on the Moon
Scientists have calculated that a city with a population of 1 million on the Moon will completely run out of water within 100 years, even under the most optimistic water scenario.
A new study conducted by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has revealed major resource obstacles to humanity's dream of establishing a permanent city on the Moon. According to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Space Technologies, existing water reserves cannot support a population of 1 million in the long term.
Water Reserves and Consumption Scenarios on the Moon
Researchers examined the most optimistic scenario, assuming the presence of 1 billion tons of water on the lunar surface and polar regions. This volume corresponds to an amount that would fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Recycling Technologies and Depletion of Reserves
Even assuming it is recycled with 98 percent efficiency using advanced technologies used on the International Space Station, a city inhabited by 1 million people would consume the entire reserve within 100 years. A warning is also issued that the actual amount of water may be even lower.
Small Settlement Models and Alternative Solutions
It is emphasized that smaller settlement concepts with populations of 1,000 or 10,000 people could survive for a time with water recycling systems, but would eventually face water scarcity. Experts recommend extracting water from deep layers.
Carbon Deficiency and Food Production Problem
Water is not the only obstacle to permanent life in space; the carbon element, which is vital for feeding the human population, is almost entirely absent on the lunar surface. The only source is the waste bags left behind by Apollo astronauts.