Gloucestershire Company Wins £150,000 Prize for Lunar Water Production Device

Naicker Scientific, a small company based in Gloucestershire, has won a £150,000 prize for inventing a device that produces clean water from icy lunar soil, The Guardian reported. Their innovative solution, known as the SonoChem system, utilizes a microwave oven, an auger for feeding materials, and ultrasound technology. The device extracts water from lunar regolith, which is heated in a microwave, causing contaminants to vaporize, while the water gases are subsequently frozen and liquefied under pressure.

The Aqualunar Challenge, funded by the UK Space Agency, aims to address the need for reliable drinking water for future lunar missions. NASA plans to establish a permanent crewed base on the moon by the decade’s end. Naicker plans to use the prize money to expand his business and explore further applications of their technology.