Why Nations Are Looking Towards A "Lunar Gold Rush"

 Why Nations Are Looking Towards A "Lunar Gold Rush"

NASA has discussed a "lunar gold rush" and looked at the feasibility of moon mining.

Moscow: In a competition with other global countries including the United States, China, and India to learn more about the substances found on the earth's sole natural satellite, Russia launched its first moon-landing spacecraft in 47 years on Friday.

Russia declared that it will carry out several lunar flights before considering the prospect of a crewed voyage between Russia and China and potentially a lunar outpost. NASA has discussed a "lunar gold rush" and looked at the feasibility of moon mining.

Why are big countries so curious about what is above ground?

The Moon

The moon, which is located 384,400 kilometres (238,855 miles) from our planet, lessens the earth's axis wobble, which promotes a more stable environment. In the oceans of the globe, it also creates tides.

According to current theories, it originated 4.5 billion years ago when a large object struck the planet. The moon was created from the collision's leftover pieces.

In full Sun, the temperature rises to 127 degrees Celsius, while in complete darkness, it drops to roughly - 173 degrees Celsius. The exosphere of the moon does not provide shielding against solar radiation.

Water

According to NASA, Chandrayaan-1's detection of hydroxyl molecules distributed over the lunar surface and concentrated at the poles in 2008 led to the first confirmed finding of water on the moon.

Human existence depends on water, which may also be a source of oxygen and hydrogen that can be utilised as rocket fuel.

Helium-3

On Earth, helium-3 is an uncommon isotope of helium, but according to NASA, there are an estimated one million tonnes of it on the moon.

The European Space Agency claims that this isotope has the potential to create nuclear energy in fusion reactors while without producing radioactive waste.

Rare Earth metals

According to studies by Boeing, the moon contains rare earth elements including scandium, yttrium, and the 15 lanthanides, which are utilised in cellphones, computers, and other high-tech devices.

How would Moon mining operate?

Not everything is made apparent.

On the moon, some kind of infrastructure would need to be built. Although water on the moon might allow for long-term human existence, the lunar circumstances would need robots to do the majority of the labor-intensive tasks.

What is law, exactly?

The law is hazy and lacking in detail.

According to the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1966, no country may assert sovereignty over the moon or any other celestial body, and all nations should profit from space exploration.

However, legal experts think it is uncertain if a private organisation could assert sovereignty over a portion of the moon.

The RAND Corporation stated in a blog post last year that "space mining is subject to a little current regulations or governance, despite these potentially significant stakes."

In accordance with the 1979 The Moon Agreement, no portion of the moon "shall become the property of any State, multinational nongovernmental or non-governmental organisation, national organisation or non-governmental entity, or of any natural person."

It hasn't been approved by any significant space powers.

In 2020, the US proposed the Artemis Accords, which sought to expand on current international space law by creating "safety zones" on the moon. The agreement was named after NASA's Artemis lunar programme. China and Russia have not ratified the agreements.