Cities won't survive on the moon as there isn't enough water, scientists say
Scientists have determined that the water supply trapped in lunar glass beads is insufficient to sustain a large human city. Even with high-efficiency recycling, the water would be depleted too quickly to support a permanent, large-scale population.
Why it matters
This study challenges the feasibility of ambitious lunar colonization plans proposed by figures like Elon Musk, highlighting the physical limitations of space settlement.
If, like Elon Musk , you have been dreaming of a future in which large populations of humans can live on the moon , you're likely to be disappointed.
Even though there could be trillions of pounds of water trapped inside tiny glass beads spread across the lunar surface, scientists estimate that this won't be enough to sustain a big city for very long, according to a study published Monday in the journal Frontiers in Space Technologies .
Musk announced in February that his aerospace company, SpaceX , had shifted its focus from developing a settlement on Mars to "building a self-growing city on the Moon," because it would be quicker to achieve, potentially "in less than 10 years".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in