Canadian Company Wins CSA’s Aqualunar Challenge for Lunar Water Technology

April 15th, 2026

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has named Canadian Strategic Mission Corporation (CSMC) the winner of its Aqualunar Challenge, awarding the company $400,000 to advance a breakthrough lunar water purification system. The announcement was made by Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen at the 2026 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.

LunaPure, developed in partnership with Pacific Rim Space exploration Corp. (PARSEC), represents both a technical milestone and a step toward strengthening Canada’s strategic autonomy. With the Aqualunar Challenge win, CSMC advances not only its lunar ambitions, but also Canada’s contribution to the next phase of human space exploration.

Why Moon Water Purification is Important?

CSMC’s winning LunaPure is designed to purify contaminated lunar ice into drinkable water, an essential capability for sustained human activity on the Moon. The CSA launched the Aqualunar Challenge to accelerate technologies that support long duration lunar missions, where water is critical not only for human survival, but also for oxygen production, food cultivation, and rocket propellant manufacturing.

Scientific data indicates significant water ice deposits near the Moon’s south pole. LunaPure aims to make those resources usable, reducing reliance on Earth supplied water and advancing Canada’s role in lunar infrastructure development. The LunaPure also holds promise for improving water purification systems on Earth, particularly in remote or resource-constrained environments.