NASA has hopes of mining the moon in the next 10 years but there is one huge and worrying risk to humanity.
The space agency previously announced its plans to put humans back on the moon by 2027, including the first woman and person of color.
This groundbreaking project is known as the Artemis mission and will be the first time humans have stepped foot on the moon since the Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972.
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And now NASA has relieved that it hopes to mine resources there too, with a goal of excavating moon soil by 2032.
On the NASA website, it said: “We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the moon.”
“Then, we will use what we learn on and around the moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.”
The space agency hopes to be able to develop supplies of oxygen and water on the moon before mining beneath the lunar surface for minerals such as iron.
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It’s not yet known exactly what treasures are hiding within the lunar rock but traces of gold have been previously identified in the soil.
This could lead to a lunar gold rush if stashes of the precious material are found.
While the idea of mining on the moon isn’t new, it hasn’t been realistic until recently for a number of reasons.
First off, it’s extremely expensive and might not have rewarding results.
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Secondly, specialized technology would be needed to pull it off due to gravity being much weaker on the moon than it is on Earth.
However, one major issue is that it could pose a risk to life back on our planet.
This is due to concerns that a gold rush on the moon could result in wars breaking out on Earth.
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Currently, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 stops countries from trying to claim ownership of the moon or any other body outside of Earth.
This will make claiming ownership of any material found on the moon extremely tricky and could cause conflict between countries.
In preparation for NASA’s return to the moon, the Artemis Accords were created in 2020.
On the NASA website, it explains: “The Artemis Accords provide a common set of principles to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space.
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“The Artemis Accords reinforce the commitment by signatory nations to the Outer Space Treaty, the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior for civil space exploration and use.”