Japan plans to use ‘moon ice’ as fuel for space exploration

JAXA are planning on using hydrogen fuel to power a reusable space craft and lunar rover

Credit: -/-

JAXA reportedly plans to use the hydrogen fuel in a reusable spacecraft which can transport four astronauts to and from the Gateway, a round trip journey that will require an estimated 37 tonnes of water.

Japan also plans to use the fuel to power a transport vehicle that can travel for up to 621 miles on the moon, with each surface trip likely to need around 21 tonnes of water, according to Kyodo News.

News of the project comes just days after Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of JAXA, and Jim Bridenstine, administrator of NASA, met to discuss bilateral cooperation in terms of lunar exploration.

The pair agreed to step up collaboration between the two nations in terms of advancing human activities on the moon, as a gateway to eventual exploration of Mars.

A growing number of countries are stepping up efforts to analyse water resources on the moon, including India, the US and China, which plans to send a probe later this year to collect lunar soil samples.