Melbourne:
By the end of this decade, various countries and private companies will likely be mining the Moon’s surface. But as more and more countries and companies gain access to space, we will have to stop and ask ourselves what we need to do to protect the Moon. Along with which commercial activities should be allowed and where.

Now is the time to create rules that protect humanity’s shared future in space and ensure that the Moon remains a symbol and inspiration for future generations.

1. 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 cosmic supply chain.

Currently, all materials for space exploration are sent 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 which are essential for technologies like smartphones. This also means that mining on the Moon could reduce pressure on Earth’s dwindling reserves.

Private companies can defeat space agencies. A startup could start mining operations on the Moon even before NASA lands its next astronaut.

2. Can mining change the way we view the Moon from Earth?

When material is extracted from the Moon, dust will fly. 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. Management of moon dust will be a key factor in ensuring sustainable and minimally disruptive mining practices.

3. 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 that a company extracting resources from the Moon violates this non-appropriation provision. Or not. This issue has been raised in two subsequent agreements.

The Moon Treaty of 1979 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, while also reaffirming the Outer Space Treaty’s rejection of any claims of ownership over the Moon.

4. What will the life of miners be like on the moon?

Imagine that you have worked continuously for 12 hours in a hot and dirty environment. You are dehydrated and you are also hungry. Some of your colleagues have fainted or got 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.

This disappointing outlook highlights the potential dangers of rushing into lunar mining operations without addressing the risks to workers.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by the NewsDeskReport team and is published directly from a syndicated feed.)