A sample of synthetic lunar soil is shown in a University of Waterloo lab on June 12, 2024. (Shelby Knox/CTV News)
For some, living on the moon seems far-fetched, but for others, it’s becoming more plausible. Anqi Wang, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo, is part of a team making this dream a reality. Supervised by John Wen and Jean-Pierre Hickey, the researchers aim to use the moon's soil to create energy and support life on the lunar surface.
“Our goal is to provide the energy needed for people to survive and thrive on the moon,” Wang explained. This project excites everyone involved. Wang, who previously focused solely on combustion at the University of Missouri, now works on practical applications for space.
Jack Ehling, a co-op student, expressed amazement at working on such a project. PhD candidate Connor MacRobbie sees it as a chance to turn science fiction into reality. The team's ultimate aim is to find ways to use lunar soil to generate energy, reducing the need to transport materials from Earth, which is costly and impractical.
“So we're trying to limit the amount of resources taken from Earth to space. One thing that we're starting to look at is how to use space debris as a fuel source,” MacRobbie said.
The team conducted experiments using lunar soil simulants provided by NASA. They use this regolith in combustion reactions to generate heat and energy. Their approach also addresses space debris by repurposing it into fuel, aiming for a sustainable infrastructure that recycles old satellites and refines lunar soil for building materials.
The journey to creating a self-sufficient lunar environment is long, but MacRobbie remains hopeful. “Is it going to amount to anything? At this point, I do think it will. We're doing a lot of great work and there are a lot of good prospects for us moving forward,” he said.
