The LUWEX (Validation of Lunar Water Extraction and Purification Technologies for In-Situ Propellant and Consumables Production) project has reached completion, demonstrating significant progress in lunar water extraction capabilities. This Horizon Europe-funded initiative brought together expertise from Germany (DLR, Technische Universität Braunschweig), Austria (Liquifer Systems Group), Poland (Scanway, Wrocław University of Science and Technology), and Italy (Thales Alenia Space) to tackle one of fundamental challenges of sustainable human lunar presence.
Led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the project successfully validated technologies for extracting and purifying water from lunar regolith simulant under laboratory conditions that closely mirror the lunar environment.
Key technical achievements include:
• Creation of an icy regolith simulant, mimicking a possible mixture of ice and lunar dust
• Implementation of an efficient water extraction and purification process chain
• The equipment needed to purify the water polluted with typical lunar volatiles
• The system needed to store and analyse the purity of the water suitable for a lunar environment
The project advanced the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of individual subsystems to TRL 4-5, marking an important step toward practical implementation. The next phase will focus on miniaturizing components and preparing for actual lunar deployment. The water purification system demonstrated particular promise, achieving quality standards suitable for both human consumption and rocket propellant production.
Looking ahead, the LUWEX consortium plans to:
• Scale the technology for integration with the European Large Logistics Lander or Argonaut
• Explore potential terrestrial applications like water purification and water quality monitoring
This development in In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technology is reducing the cost of lunar missions and enabling sustained human presence on the Moon. The ability to extract and purify water locally will decrease dependence on Earth-based resources while providing essential materials for life support and propulsion systems. LUWEX system’s design includes considerations for integration with habitat life support systems and power grids, making it suitable for both short-term missions and long-term bases.
Water from Moon Dust: The LUWEX Project Demonstrates Lunar Water Extraction Technology
