In a recent edition of the pop-science programme Horizon, I’m pretty sure there was an American scientist who’d come up with a process whereby metal oxides (found in lunar soil) could be heated up to the point where they are transformed (alchemy-style?) into potable water. I see how the oxygen in the metal oxide could come into play, but where does the hydrogen come from to make our beloved Hydrogen Monoxide? Maybe I missed the point and he was suggesting that a lunar base would have brought it’s own hydrogen supply? It just looked a bit like snake oil dripping from this scientists spigot…
Even if you simply used the lunar oxygen to make water it’s a massive savings in launch costs. A single kg of hydrogen, when reacted with local oxygen gives 9 kg of water. Damn sight cheaper than dragging all that from home.
On the other hand perhaps they were discussing recovering water crystals from the lunar regolith directly. In other words, you’re mining moon dust anyway through heating the stuff, why not capture any volatiles (including water) while you’re at it.
You wouldn’t happen to have a link to the show would you?