Moon City Dream: Water Shortage May Block Plans

Elon Musk's vision of a self-growing city on the moon faces significant water limitations, according to a recent study. While trillions of pounds of water may exist in lunar glass beads, scientists estimate it's insufficient for large populations. A city of one million people could deplete the estimated water supply in under two and a half years.

However, advanced water recycling, similar to that on the International Space Station, could extend this supply for a century for one million inhabitants, though this requires strict conservation. Researchers suggest that smaller settlements, such as a town of 100,000, might be sustainable for 1,000 years, and a community of 10,000 could potentially last 10,000 years.

Experts like astronomer Ian Crawford emphasize the need for realism in lunar settlement plans. He suggests importing water may be necessary for larger settlements. Small research outposts or a 'Moon Village' of 1,000 inhabitants could utilize lunar water more freely in the short term.

Water is considered a critical resource for the solar system, potentially sparking competition. The study highlights the challenges of extracting water from extremely cold, dark craters, which may also contain toxic chemicals. A call for international regulation is urged to prevent a 'gold rush' mentality and ensure sustainable resource management.