Turning Moon dust into breathable air could soon be less science fiction and more engineering challenge, as researchers at Dublin City University investigate whether techniques borrowed from computer chip manufacturing can be adapted to pull oxygen from lunar soil.
The approach targets one of the toughest obstacles to establishing a lasting presence on the Moon: creating essential supplies such as oxygen on-site, rather than relying on repeated deliveries from Earth.
Lunar soil is considered a potentially rich reservoir of oxygen, but the element is not freely available. Instead, it is chemically bound within minerals, meaning it must be separated before it can be used.
Many current extraction concepts depend on extreme heat—typically in the region of 1,000 – 1,700C—to break those mineral bonds and release oxygen molecules, a requirement that makes such systems hard to integrate into the practical constraints of a lunar base.
Dr Rajani Vijayaraghavan heads the DCU research team
The DCU group, led by Dr Rajani Vijayaraghavan, is pursuing an alternative route: developing processes that operate at temperatures below 400C, a shift that could make oxygen production more feasible within a future Moon habitat.
“The need for oxygen in lunar bases goes beyond breathing,” according to DCU.
“Future lunar missions will also potentially need oxygen for rocket propellant production, making it one of the most strategically important resources for a sustainable lunar presence,” the university said.
The project brings together researchers at DCU, the European Space Agency and international collaborators.
