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How could lunar ice be turned into rocket propellant?
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Moon
(Left) Near side of Earth's Moon, photographed by the Galileo spacecraft on its way to Jupiter. (Right) Far side of the Moon with some of the near side visible (upper right), photographed by the Apollo 16 spacecraft.
Lunar ice can be converted into rocket propellant through the process of electrolysis, which splits water molecules into their constituent parts: hydrogen and oxygen.12
In this application, the hydrogen serves as a high-energy rocket fuel, while the oxygen acts as an essential oxidizer. Utilizing these local resources is considered a vital strategy for future space exploration, as it would significantly reduce the high costs and logistical difficulties associated with transporting fuel from Earth. These water deposits are primarily located in the Moon's polar regions, where "cold traps" in permanently shadowed craters have preserved ice over geologic time.21