New research shows how water would behave on the moon

New research by John Z. Kiss, Karl H. Hasenstein, and Christopher P. McKay, in collaboration with 4SPACE LLC, found that water behaves differently under lunar gravity. The study, titled "Assessing Water Dynamics at Lunar Gravity," tested three liquids—pure water, a 30% glycerol solution, and a salt solution—under simulated lunar conditions. The results showed that surface tension affects water flow, making it less efficient in lunar gravity. The experiment, conducted during the Blue Origin New Shepard 29 flight in February 2025, found that the glycerol solution showed better water flow, suggesting potential additives for improving water absorption in lunar soil.

The research highlights the challenges of plant cultivation on the moon due to the lack of water flow and poor absorption by lunar soil. The experiment used a centrifuge to simulate lunar gravity for two minutes, and the meniscus of the liquids reacted differently under the simulated conditions. The glycerol solution showed more consistent behavior, indicating that additives might help in promoting water absorption for plants in lunar soil. The findings are important for future lunar experiments and the development of irrigation systems for plant cultivation on the moon.

The success of the experiment was attributed to the hardware and the team's careful planning, as the research was new and had not been tested before. The team plans to use the results as a basis for further research, including longer-term experiments on the moon. The study underscores the importance of understanding water dynamics on the moon for sustaining life there, and the findings could support future efforts in lunar colonization and plant cultivation.

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