Moon lacks enough water for large cities, study finds

Scientists say the moon lacks sufficient water to sustain large cities, with a study estimating that even a generous supply of 1 billion tons would support a population of 1 million for under two and a half years without recycling. The findings challenge proposals for rapid lunar settlement. The study, published in Frontiers in Space Technologies, calculated that efficient water recycling at 98 percent could extend that period to 100 years, though researchers deemed this unsustainable. A smaller city of 100,000 people could last 1,000 years, while a town of 10,000 might survive 10,000 years. Experts suggest importing water from asteroids or Saturn's moons as a long-term solution, with a realistic timeline of 30 years for a lunar town. They also emphasize the scientific value of lunar ice and the need for international regulations to prevent a resource gold rush.