As humanity looks to expand into the Solar System, finding a way to produce fuel in space becomes increasingly crucial. One potential solution is to use resources found on the Moon, which would simplify transportation and reduce energy costs.
The Moon’s gravity is weaker than Earth’s, making it easier to launch payloads further into space. However, producing fuel on the Moon comes with its own set of challenges. A recent study by PNAS estimates that producing oxygen on the Moon requires a significant amount of energy, around 24 kWh per kilogram.
Despite this high energy cost, a comparison of rocket trajectories highlights the benefits of lunar refueling. When launching from Earth to the Moon’s Lagrange Point 1, rockets need to burn about 25 kg of propellant to transport one kilogram of payload. In contrast, launching from the Moon requires only around four kilograms of propellant for the same distance.
This difference in energy consumption is crucial when exploring deeper parts of the Solar System. Launching from the Moon would be more fuel-efficient and ultimately result in more useful fuel for future missions.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/turning-the-moon-into-a-fuel-depot-will-take-a-lot-of-power