UK's Aqualunar Challenge: SonoChem System Wins with Lunar Water Purification Tech

The UK Space Agency's Aqualunar Challenge, concluded in London, awarded Gloucestershire-based Naicker Scientific the £150,000 first prize for its SonoChem System. This technology purifies water derived from lunar ice using sound waves to create microbubbles, generating free radicals that eliminate contaminants. NASA aims to establish a permanent crewed base on the Moon by the end of the decade through the Artemis program. A reliable water supply is crucial for drinking, food production, oxygen, and fuel. Lunar regolith contains an estimated 5.6% water ice. The SonoChem System's success could translate to terrestrial applications, addressing clean water access challenges globally. RedSpace Ltd and Queen Mary University of London were named as runners up. Ten finalist teams were each awarded £30,000 seed funding in July 2024 to develop their technologies in pursuit of the prize and provided with a comprehensive package of non-financial support, including expert mentoring and access to testing facilities. According to Lolan Naicker, Technical Director, Naicker Scientific, "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."