Kurita Selected in JAXA’s Open Planning Competition of the Study of “Elemental Prototype Testing for Water Purification and Electrolysis Processes to Realize a Lunar Propellant Production Plant” for the 2nd Consecutive Year

Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President: Hirohiko Ejiri; hereinafter “Kurita”) has been selected for the “Elemental Prototype Testing for Water Purification and Electrolysis” (hereinafter the “Study”). This selection was made through a competitive proposal process conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for its larger program, “Elemental Prototype Testing for a Ground Demonstration Plant toward the Realization of a Lunar Propellant ^(*1) Production Plant (Sections A–C).” This is the second consecutive year that Kurita’s proposal has been selected in JAXA’s open call, following its selection in 2024 for “Prototype Testing of Water Purification and Electrolysis Processes for Realizing a Lunar Propellant Production Plant”^(*2) .

Within the international space exploration framework, the exploration of lunar surface and its vicinity is advancing as the initial step toward humanity’s goal of reaching Mars. In Japan, research and development for lunar and Mars exploration is being conducted based on JAXA’s “Japan’s International Space Exploration Scenario (Draft) 2021”^(*3). Against this backdrop, initiatives to construct a plant on the lunar surface to produce liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants for spacecraft from ice-containing regolith^(*4) found on the Moon (hereinafter “lunar regolith”) are gaining momentum, aiming to realize the utilization of lunar water resources.

Based on the results of the conceptual design conducted in fiscal year 2024, the Study will conduct additional prototype testing of the necessary elements ^(*5) for constructing a lunar propellant production plant, focusing on the purification and electrolysis processes for water extracted from lunar regolith. Kurita will carry out the three tasks below, which include water purification experiments using extraction water with water quality predicted by our simulation, and testing the effect of impurity levels in raw water on the electrolysis efficiency of electrolytic cells for a long duration. The results will be submitted to JAXA by the end of fiscal year 2025.

1. Identification of technical challenges in the water purification process and planning for future demonstration projects
2. Prototype testing of components related to the water purification process
3. Prototype testing of components related to the electrolysis process

The Kurita Group has been advancing various initiatives to apply the technologies and insights cultivated over many years in the water treatment field to the space sector, including demonstration testing of its water reclamation system in space on the International Space Station (ISS) with JAXA. Kurita will continue to collaborate with various public and private entities involved in space development to develop water recovery and purification technologies for space and to establish sustainable space facilities, aiming to support humanity’s challenge to explore space. Furthermore, we will also leverage insights gained from R&D in the space field to create and provide solutions, helping to address social and industrial challenges here on Earth and contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.