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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 · UTC
Missions & Exploration

Study finds lunar water insufficient for million-person cities

Researchers conclude current reserves cannot support large urban populations on the Moon.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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Lunar water reserves fall short of supporting large cities
Lunar water reserves fall short of supporting large cities AI illustrationhow this picture was made
Astronomers Martin Elvis and Jonathan McDowell published a peer-reviewed study on September 13, 2026, concluding that lunar water reserves are insufficient to support large cities of one million people.[1] The findings, released in Frontiers in Space Technologies, address the viability of establishing major human settlements on the lunar surface by quantifying available water resources.[1] The research suggests that existing deposits do not meet the demand required for a population of that scale, limiting options for future large-scale urbanization.[1]
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  1. Astronomers Martin Elvis and Jonathan McDowell published a peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Space Technologies on September 13, 2026, concluding that lunar water reserves are insufficient to support large cities of one million people. · EarthSky | Updates on your cosmos and world
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