Canadian Space Agency: Aqualunar Challenge
The Canadian Space Agency sought powerful water technologies that could be used to purify lunar water, enabling future space missions.
Challenge Launch: January 2024
Supporting Human Exploration on the Moon, and Beyond
The Aqualunar Challenge called on Canadian innovators to develop cutting-edge technologies for purifying water on the Moon. These groundbreaking solutions not only aim to support sustainable lunar exploration but also have the potential to revolutionize water purification systems on Earth.
Up to 8 Prizes of $22,500 CAD
Open to all eligible innovators submitting a Stage 1 Concept Design
Up to 4 Finalists of $105,000 CAD
Open to all semi-finalists participating in Stage 2
1 Grand Prize Winner at $400,000 CAD
Open to all finalists participating in Stage 3
The Problem
With humankind returning to the Moon later this decade, purifying the water that exists in lunar regolith (soil) is critical to enabling more ambitious space missions. Using lunar water-as drinking water, to grow food, to create oxygen and to split into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel- is a key enabler for supporting future deep space exploration.
Data suggests that large quantities of water ice may exist in permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole. But this water contains a number of contaminants preventing its use unless it is purified.
The Challenge
Water - a critical resource on Earth and in space - is necessary to support future human space exploration. It is very likely that water exists on the Moon, but it contains contaminants.
Removing the current known contaminants from Moon water to grow food and provide propellant and drinking water would not only help support human space exploration, it could also help advance water purification technologies here on Earth.
Eligibility + Applicant Guide
Eligible Applicants to the challenge included the following:
- Businesses or other for-profit organizations in Canada;
- Not-for-profit organizations in Canada;
- Indigenous organizations and groups located in Canada;
- Post-secondary/academic institutions located in Canada; and
- Individuals or groups of individuals based in Canada.
Individuals or groups of individuals were encouraged to submit an application to the challenge, but in order to be eligible to receive prizes, they will be required to establish a Canadian legal entity (such as a corporation or a not-for-profit organization) capable of entering into binding agreements in Canada.
Please see the Applicant Guide for more eligibility details.
Challenge Updates
Canada is going to the Moon. With this return to the lunar surface, we must find sustainable ways to support long-term space missions.
Stage 1- Concept Design (Applications Open)
Challenge launched on January 17, 2024. Applications are open until April 8, 2024 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Teams will provide a detailed explanation of how their solution meets the Challenge objectives, Mission Scenario and judging criteria.
Stage 2- Proof of Concept (Semi-Finalists)
Announced in September 2024, the selected semi-finalist moved on to Stage 2 of the Challenge, where they will begin developing the key components of their prototypes based on their concept design (equivalent to TRL 3).
The semi-finalists announced were: Lotic Technologies Inc., University of Calgary, Sixpenny Architectural Fabrication, WaterPuris Inc., Canadian Space Mining Corporation, 778 Labs. MARTLET (McGill Advanced bio-Regenerative Toolkit for Long-Excursion Trips), and Cimbus Inc.
Stage 3- Prototype Scaling (Finalists)
At this stage, selected finalists will have 10 months to integrate the components of their prototypes (minimum TRL 4). Finalists will demonstrate their systems and have their outputs tested and will be competing to be the Grand Prize Winner of the Challenge.
Canadian Grand Prize Winner Chosen
The winner for the Aqualunar Challenge will be announced in Spring of 2026.
Challenge Partners
The Aqualunar Challenge is a project of international collaboration between the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, with joint but distinct tracks for each country. This website relates to the Canadian Aqualunar Challenge.
In Canada, the Challenge is organized and delivered by the Canadian Space Agency in partnership with the Privy Council Office’s Impact Canada program, situated within the Impact and Innovation Unit.
In the UK, the Aqualunar Challenge is delivered by Challenge Works on behalf of the UK Space Agency. If you are a UK Applicant looking to apply, learn more here: aqualunarchallenge.org.uk/.
