At the 2026 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Toronto-based Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation (CSMC) won the Aqualunar Challenge, earning a $400,000 grand prize for its LunaPure lunar water purification technology.
The challenge, led by the Canadian Space Agency in partnership with Impact Canada, called on Canadian innovators to develop systems capable of purifying water on the Moon, a capability viewed as essential for long-term human exploration and future missions to Mars.
CSMC’s LunaPure system is designed as a compact, self-sustaining technology that converts contaminated lunar ice into drinkable water using heat generated from solar energy and a chemical purification process. According to the company, the prototype is roughly the size of a “box of books” and was engineered to meet strict spaceflight requirements around mass, power consumption and autonomy, while requiring minimal maintenance.
“Winning the Aqualunar Challenge is a testament to the incredible talent and vision of the CSMC team,” said Daniel Sax, CEO and founder of CSMC, in a statement. “This victory is a key part of our broader mission to build world-leading strategic capabilities for Canada and its allies, developing the critical infrastructure that will secure our leadership position both in orbit and here on Earth.”
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The competition drew approximately 45 submissions, highlighting a wide range of approaches to lunar water extraction and purification.
As interest in lunar exploration accelerates globally, water has become a strategic resource for both sustaining astronauts and producing rocket fuel. Experts say purified lunar water could eventually support electrolysis systems that split water into hydrogen and oxygen for use as propellant.
Scientific understanding of lunar water has evolved significantly in recent years. Researchers now estimate the Moon may contain roughly 600 billion kilograms of water ice trapped in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. Future missions under NASA’s Artemis program are expected to focus on locating and sampling those deposits.
Technologies like LunaPure could play a key role in making sustained lunar habitation possible, though systems will still require testing in actual lunar conditions before operational deployment.
Beyond its space applications, CSMC said the technology may also have terrestrial uses, particularly in regions facing water scarcity. The company added that the same engineering expertise behind LunaPure is also being applied to other dual-use technologies, including nuclear microreactors aimed at supporting northern defence infrastructure and remote energy systems.
Founded in 2020 as Canadian Space Mining Corporation, CSMC develops technologies focused on energy, resource security and space infrastructure through its subsidiaries CSMC Nuclear and CSMC Labs.
Canada has committed to several lunar exploration initiatives as part of its participation in international Moon missions, including the development of Canadarm3 for the planned Gateway lunar space station, along with lunar rover programs and other exploration technologies.
