https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/28/nasa-mining-moon-2032
"US space agency Nasa has ambitions to mine resources on the moon in the next
decade, with the goal of excavating the soil there by 2032.
Nasa plans to send Americans back to the moon by 2025 for its Artemis mission,
including the first women and person of color, the first humans to land on the
moon since Nasa’s Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972.
That mission, meant to further explore the lunar surface, will gather
information for what the agency hopes will be a later trip to Mars.
“We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish
the first long-term presence on the moon,” according to information on Nasa’s
website, about the Artemis mission.
“Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant
leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars,” it continued.
Nasa will first be looking at ways to develop oxygen and water supplies on the
arid lunar surface, which does not have breathable air in its thin atmosphere,
later expanding to exploit other minerals such as iron. Later this month, Nasa
will send a test drill into space with plans to harvest lunar soil, with sights
set on building a processing plant by 2032.
“We are trying to invest in the exploration phase, understand the resources …
to [lower] risk such that external investment makes sense that could lead to
development and production,” said Gerald Sanders, a rocket scientist with
Nasa’s Johnson Space Center, during a mining conference in Brisbane.
“We are literally just scratching the surface,” Sanders added.
Scientists hope to use the Artemis mission to expand commercial opportunities
in space. Commercial rocket companies are expected to be among the first
customers, using the moon’s resources for fuel."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
