Water Reserves Represent the Biggest Obstacle to Establishing Large Cities on the Moon
According to research from the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, current ice reserves on the Moon prevent the establishment of cities with populations in the millions.
According to a new study published by the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, insufficient ice and water reserves stand out as the biggest obstacle to establishing large cities on the Moon.
Scope and Results of the Research
A new study published by the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics examined how much energy and water a dense population on the Moon would consume.
The research results, published in the journal Frontiers in Space Technology, reveal that existing resources are not sustainable in the long term.
State of Water Reserves
Scientists confirmed that water deposits on the Moon are stored in deep depressions within shadowed craters that receive no sunlight.
In these regions, where temperatures range between minus 163 and minus 246 degrees Celsius, approximately one millimeter of ice is lost every billion years.
Water Consumption and Population Limit
Lead author of the study, Martin Elvis, stated that a city's population is defined as 1 million and water consumption per capita is calculated at 500 tons.
It is calculated that without recycling, a city of this size would exhaust its water within a few years.
Recycling and Sustainability
While the International Space Station recycles 98 percent of its water, with a similar rate, a 1-million-person lunar city could last for about 100 years.
For longer-term living, the population must be limited to one thousand people or water must be recycled at a rate of 99.9 percent.
Energy Production Potential
The polar regions of the Moon feature Peaks of Eternal Light that allow for continuous utilization of solar energy.
Solar-panel towers to be placed on crater rims can generate gigawatts of electricity at a level that will also feed industry.