Moon, the ever shining dry rock turns out to a gemstone with trillions of dollars of helium-3, an isotope which is a light and non-radioactive nuclear fuel that is virtually nonexistent here on Earth. With the goal to be the supplier of future fuel, the US, India , China are on a Lunar race to be the next superpower.
On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong took his first steps on moon said it’s “One giant leap for mankind” that small step could power the future of mankind and the expansion of human race throughout the Galaxy.
But how the moon got helium in the first place?
The sun gets its energy from converting hydrogen atoms into helium which gets released and radiates outward toward the surface of the Sun and then into the solar system beyond it.
Our moon lacks an atmosphere which is constantly hit by solar winds containing helium-3 for billions of years. With potential to create large amount of energy without radioactive byproducts, we won’t have to worry about pollution.
There are an estimated one million tonnes of helium-3 in the moon which could power the earth for centuries.
There are certain challenges we have to face to power the future with the new resource. From setting up an active moon base to figuring out how to protect our delicate instruments from the fine moon magnetic dust that could interfere the instruments.
In 2015, former US President Barack Obama signed a law that grants US citizens rights to own resources mined in space. Which motivates private individuals like SpaceX , Blue Origin not just to explore our solar system but to commercialise it.
Upcoming Lunar missions by the US, INDIA, And China aims to Build a moon base for further exploration for possible resource mining. Only time can answer the question who will be the first to mine the moon.
How Future Lunar Missions Can Solve Earth’s Energy Problems?
Moon, the ever shining dry rock turns out to a gemstone with trillions of dollars of helium-3, an isotope which is a light and non-radioactive nuclear fuel that is virtually nonexistent here on Earth. With the goal to be the supplier of future fuel, the US, India , China are on a Lunar race to be the next superpower.
But how the moon got helium in the first place?
The sun gets its energy from converting hydrogen atoms into helium which gets released and radiates outward toward the surface of the Sun and then into the solar system beyond it.
Our moon lacks an atmosphere which is constantly hit by solar winds containing helium-3 for billions of years. With potential to create large amount of energy without radioactive byproducts, we won’t have to worry about pollution.
There are certain challenges we have to face to power the future with the new resource. From setting up an active moon base to figuring out how to protect our delicate instruments from the fine moon magnetic dust that could interfere the instruments.
In 2015, former US President Barack Obama signed a law that grants US citizens rights to own resources mined in space. Which motivates private individuals like SpaceX , Blue Origin not just to explore our solar system but to commercialise it.
Upcoming Lunar missions by the US, INDIA, And China aims to Build a moon base for further exploration for possible resource mining. Only time can answer the question who will be the first to mine the moon.