The dream of extracting lunar resources is reaching a new level. To achieve this, China is considering building a magnetic launcher on the Moon.
Inspired by the movement of a hammer throw athlete, this rotating system could be a game-changer for space resource exploitation.
Chinese researchers plan to use a combination of solar and nuclear energy to power the launcher. A significant portion of the energy used would be recovered after each launch, thus reducing operational costs.
Thanks to the Moon's lack of atmosphere and lower gravity, this system could send cargo to Earth at a fraction of today's cost, reducing current space transportation expenses by 90%. According to researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, this represents a unique opportunity.
The primary goal of this ambitious project is the extraction and return of helium-3, an isotope that is rare on Earth but abundant on the Moon. This isotope could be critical for energy production via nuclear fusion, a technology still in development.
On Earth, helium-3 reserves amount to just 0.5 metric tons, while the lunar soil could contain nearly a million tons. This could meet the planet's energy needs for over a thousand years, according to the researchers.
This launch system would include a 165-foot (50 meters) rotating arm with a superconducting motor capable of reaching lunar escape velocity within 10 minutes. The launch trajectory would need to be calculated with extreme precision to ensure the proper return of the capsules.
China is looking to collaborate with Russia to build a research station at the Moon's South Pole by 2035. This project would represent an investment of 130 billion yuan ($18 billion), but it could become profitable within a year through the extraction of helium-3.
There are many challenges: stability of the rotating arm, resistance to radiation and lunar dust, among others. However, researchers hope to see this project come to fruition by 2045.
What is helium-3 and why is it so valuable?
Helium-3 is a light isotope of helium, consisting of two protons and one neutron. It is extremely rare on Earth but is in high demand due to its potential in nuclear fusion, a clean energy source.
By fusing it with deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, helium-3 could produce energy without carbon emissions or long-term radioactive waste. Its abundance on the Moon makes it a strategic asset for future space exploration and exploitation missions.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND