In 1962, NASA exploded 22,900 gallons of water 65 miles above Earth to study the atmosphere

Representative Image (AI-generated) For humans to travel deeper into space and remain there for months or even years, they will need much more than powerful rockets. Astronauts must have a continuous supply of oxygen, water and food, while waste and carbon dioxide must be carefully managed. On short missions, these needs can largely be met by carrying supplies from Earth. But as missions become longer and destinations move farther away, constant resupply becomes increasingly difficult.NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) explored many unusual questions during the early decades of the space age, including how materials behaved in the unfamiliar environment beyond Earth and what it would take to keep humans alive during long-duration missions. In 1962, for example, the agency launched 22,900 gallons of water aboard a Saturn I test rocket and deliberately detonated the water-filled upper stage at an altitude of about 65 miles. The experiment, known as Project Highwater, allowed scientists to study how the sudden release of such a large volume of water behaved and affected the upper atmosphere.Decades before today's renewed interest in lunar bases and human missions to ...