Chinese scientists have discovered a “brand-new method” of producing large quantities of water using lunar soil brought back from a 2020 expedition, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday. Vials of lunar soil brought back from the moon by China's Chang'e-5 probe in Beijing, on Aug. 26, 2021. China hopes that recent and future lunar expeditions will set the foundations to build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), an initiative it is co-leading with Russia. The announcement of the discovery comes at a time when Chinese scientists are already conducting experiments on lunar samples brought back in June by the Chang’e-6 mission. The importance of lunar water goes beyond making permanent human presence viable.

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Persons: China’s, “, ”, China's Chang'e, Ren Hui, Bill Nelson, NASA’s Nelson Organizations: Academy of Sciences, Getty, Lunar Research, Russia, NPR Locations: U.S, China, Beijing