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Melbourne: It is possible that by the end of this decade various countries and private companies will be doing mining work on the surface of the moon. As more and more countries and companies gain access to space, we need to stop and ask ourselves what commercial activities should be allowed on the Moon, and where. Now is the time to create rules that protect humanity’s shared future in space and ensure that the Moon remains an icon and inspiration for future generations.
Why mining on the moon?
NASA’s billion-dollar ‘Artemis’ program is not just about sending astronauts to the moon. This is also about making way for mining operations. China is also on the same path. All this has sparked a new ‘moon race’, in which private companies are competing to figure out how to extract the Moon’s resources and sell them to governments in the supply chain.
Water on the moon is more expensive than gold
All materials for space exploration are shipped from Earth, making essential commodities like water and fuel extremely expensive. When one liter of water reaches the Moon, its value becomes more than gold. But by converting the water ice present on the Moon into hydrogen and oxygen, we can fill fuel in spacecraft. This could make journeys into deep space, especially to Mars, much more possible. The Moon has reserves of rare earth metals that are essential for technologies like smartphones. It also means that mining on the Moon could relieve pressure on Earth’s dwindling reserves.
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Can the perspective of looking at the moon change?
When material is mined from the Moon, dust will fly up. Due to lack of proper environment to suppress it, this dust can travel very far. If dust comes out on the Moon, those parts of it may appear brighter from where the dust has been removed, while those parts where the dust has settled may appear grey. Even small-scale operations can generate enough dust to cause visible changes over time. Managing moon dust won’t be easy.
Who is the owner of the moon?
The Outer Space Treaty (1967) makes it clear that no country can claim “ownership” of the Moon. However, it is not clear whether a company extracting resources from the Moon violates this non-appropriation provision. This issue has been raised in two subsequent agreements. The 1979 Moon Treaty described the Moon and its natural resources as the “common heritage of mankind”. This is often interpreted as an explicit ban on commercial mining on the Moon. However, the 2020 ‘Artemis’ Agreement allows mining, as well as reaffirming the Outer Space Treaty’s rejection of any claims of ownership over the Moon.
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What will life be like for miners on the moon?
Imagine you worked in a hot and dirty environment for 12 hours straight. You are dehydrated, you are also hungry. Some of your colleagues have fainted or been injured due to exhaustion. All you want is to find another job with good safety standards, fair pay, and reasonable working hours. But, you can’t do that, because you’re stuck in space. (The Conversation)
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