Scientists Think Humans Could Live on the Moon. One Obstacle Stands in the Way

Scientists have discovered water ice on the moon, which could potentially support a small settlement of around 1,000 people for centuries. However, the available water supply is not enough to sustain larger populations of hundreds of thousands or millions of people for the long term. A recent study published in Frontiers in Space Technologies suggests that even with a generous estimate of one billion tons of water, a city of one million people could only be supported for about a century using current recycling technology.

Water is crucial not only for drinking but also as a resource for fuel production through electrolysis, as it can be split into hydrogen and oxygen. While solar power may be abundant on the lunar surface due to the constant sunlight reaching the rims of polar craters, the extreme environment poses numerous challenges for large-scale habitation.

These include pressure containment, radiation protection, temperature extremes, and the abrasive nature of lunar dust. Experts believe that unless there are significant advancements in recycling technology or a substantial discovery of water reserves, large-scale long-term habitation on the moon may not be feasible. Smaller settlements, such as villages or towns of a few thousand people, appear to be a more realistic possibility, with lunar water being sufficient to support them for centuries.