According to previous research, there is water on the Moon inside the frozen soil of the satellite, in particular, at the lunar poles. The Space Institute of Florida signed with the University of Central Florida specialists a contract for the development of water extraction technology on the Moon. Water is an important resource for the exploration of outer space, since it can be chemically divided into hydrogen and oxygen, which can then be used as a rocket fuel. The possibility of refueling missiles on the Moon will open up new horizons for humanity and reduce the cost of flights beyond the satellite's orbit. In the past, scientists have already proposed the development of lunar soil: using heavy equipment to dig out ice blocks from the regolith and to heat water from them on the surface. However, Phil Metzger and Julie Brissette, who received the contract, have another idea. They offer to drill deep wells, through which heat will be pumped. So you can melt the frozen water in the regolith, which rises to the top in the form of steam. This method requires less equipment, it is more simple and reliable. "When it comes to delivering goods into space, the mass matters," Metzger said.. This is agreed by the representatives of United Launch Alliance, who found this method quite realistic and economically profitable.

"Receiving rocket fuel on the Moon can be much cheaper than transporting it from Earth with its high gravity," said Bernard Cutter, chief scientist at United Launch Alliance. "This, in turn, will reduce the cost of flights 5 times". The main problem now facing scientists is to determine the correct geometry of the holes in order to increase the volume of the heated zone and the time during which it will retain heat, writes Moon Daily.

Original article: Scientists have proposed a new technology for water extraction on the Moon.