Helium-3 is a rare isotope of helium on Earth, but NASA estimates that there are about one million tons of this substance on the Moon.
On August 11, Russia launched a spacecraft to the Moon for the first time in 47 years, amid a race among major powers like the United States, China, and India to explore more rare elements on Earth’s only natural satellite.
Russia announced plans to initiate further lunar missions and explore the potential for a joint crewless mission with China, and even the establishment of a lunar base.
NASA has also discussed a “lunar gold rush” and the potential for lunar resource exploitation.
So why are these powers interested in what’s up there?
The Luna-25 spacecraft was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region of the Russian Far East on August 11, 2023.
The Allure of the Moon
The Moon, located 384,400 km from our planet, regulates Earth’s axial tilt, ensuring a more stable climate. It also causes tides in the world’s oceans.
The current theory suggests that the Moon was formed when a massive object collided with Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. Debris from that impact coalesced to form the Moon.
Temperatures on the Moon vary greatly between night and day, reaching up to 127°C during the day and plummeting to around -173°C at night. The Moon’s outer layer offers no protection against radiation from the Sun.
According to NASA, water was first discovered on the Moon in 2008 by India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission, which found hydroxyl molecules spread across the lunar surface, concentrated at the poles.
Water is crucial for human life and could also serve as a source of hydrogen and oxygen—elements that can be used as rocket fuel.
Helium-3 is a rare isotope of helium on Earth, but NASA estimates that there are about one million tons of this substance on the Moon.
According to the European Space Agency, this isotope could provide nuclear energy in fusion reactors, but since it is non-radioactive, it would not create hazardous waste.
Additionally, a study by Boeing indicates that rare earth metals, used in smartphones, computers, and advanced technologies, are currently found on the Moon, including: scandium, yttrium, and 15 lanthanides.
How is Lunar Mining Progressing?
This process is not entirely clear. Some types of infrastructure will need to be established on the Moon. Given the Moon’s current conditions, robots will have to perform most of the heavy lifting, although the presence of water on the Moon could allow humans to survive long-term.
The laws regarding lunar mining are also unclear and full of loopholes. The 1966 Outer Space Treaty states that no nation can claim sovereignty over the Moon (or other celestial bodies) and that space exploration should be conducted for the benefit of all nations.
However, lawyers argue that it is unclear whether a private entity can claim sovereignty over a portion of the Moon. The RAND Corporation noted in a blog last year: “Space mining follows relatively few existing policies or governance.”
The Moon Agreement of 1979 states that no part of the Moon “shall become the property of any State, intergovernmental or non-governmental organization, national or non-governmental organization, or of any individual.” However, it has not been ratified by any major space power.
In 2020, the United States announced the Artemis Accords, named after NASA’s Artemis Moon program, aiming to build on existing international space law by establishing “safety zones” on the Moon (Russia and China did not participate in this agreement).
