A transformational technology that can produce drinking water on the moon has won a UK Space Agency competition.

The SonoChem System uses microwaves to defrost and ultrasound to break down contaminants in lunar ice to provide clean, drinkable water for astronauts.

Developed by UK-based company Naicker Scientific, the system was named winner of the Aqualunar Challenge, which aims to drive development of technologies that make human habitation on the moon viable by purifying water buried beneath the surface.

The SonoChem System employs groundbreaking core technology to purify water derived from lunar ice. Harnessing powerful sound waves, it spontaneously forms millions of tiny bubbles in contaminated water.

The extreme temperature and pressure created within each micro bubble generates free radicals - unstable atoms which are highly chemically reactive - which effectively removes contaminants.

Lolan Naicker, technical director, Naicker Scientific, explained, “Imagine digging up the soil in your back garden in the middle of winter and trying to extract frozen water to drink.

“Now imagine doing it in an environment that is -200°C, a nearly perfect vacuum, under low gravity, and with very little electrical power. That’s what we will have to overcome on the moon.

“If we can make the SonoChem System work there, we can make it work anywhere, whether that’s on Mars’ glaciers, or here on Earth in regions where accessing clean water is still a challenge.”

Meganne Christian, European member of the Astronaut Reserve, UK Space Agency and judging panel chair, said: “NASA has set the goal of establishing a permanent crewed base on the moon by the end of the decade.

“Astronauts will need a reliable supply of water for drinking and growing food, as well as oxygen for air and hydrogen for fuel.

“Some 5.6% of the soil – known as regolith - around the moon’s south pole is estimated to be water frozen as ice. If it can be successfully extracted, separated from the soil and purified, it makes a crewed base viable.”

UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance said, “The Aqualunar Challenge was set up to overcome one of the most significant obstacles to humans surviving on the moon or other planets – the availability of clean drinking water.

"By harnessing the wealth of talent and creativity found across the UK, the challenge has uncovered a range of new ideas. Many of these ideas could not only fuel future space exploration but also help improve lives and solve water shortages here on Earth.”

Naicker Scientific was awarded the £150,000 first prize, with two runners up winning £100,000 and £50,000 respectively:

First runner up: FRANK – Filtered Regolith Aqua Neutralisation Kit – developed by RedSpace, Aldershot. A three-stage approach designed to deliver a continuous flow of drinking-grade water in a lunar environment.

Second runner up: AquaLunarPure - Supercritical Water Purification on the Moon - developed by Queen Mary University of London. A reactor melts lunar ice to separate the dust and rock particles, then heats it to more than 373°C to turn it into “supercritical water”.

The £1.2 million Aqualunar Challenge is delivered by Challenge Works – part of the UK’s innovation agency for social good, Nesta – and the UK Space Agency, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Impact Canada, with half the prize being awarded to UK-led teams, and half being awarded to Canadian-led teams.