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Picture an environment with almost inexhaustible and renewable energy sources: no emissions, no hazardous dumps. This vision may not be far from reality, as NASA sets its sights on an extraordinary fuel source located on the Moon: helium-3.
It was once considered only as a theory, but now helium-3 nuclear fusion is fueling global aspirations as scientists and space agencies, including NASA, look to harness this lunar asset.
Understanding the significance of helium-3 for clean energy solutions
Helium-3 is an isotope of helium that is rare but has specific potential for a type of nuclear fusion. The helium-3 fusion reaction does not produce the same type of radioactive waste as a conventional uranium or plutonium nuclear reactor, nor does it produce long-lived residue.
This non-radioactive fuel is well sought after in fusion energy because it provides a cleaner and safer means of generating a lot of energy. However, there’s a catch: helium-3 is rare on Earth, though it has been found on the surface of the Moon, accumulated over billions of years by the solar wind.
Extraction of helium-3 from the lunar surface is not an easy task, and it is expensive. According to the lunar rock samples, helium-3 is present in the lunar soil, or regolith, in an amount of only 10 ppb. To obtain usable quantities would mean having to mine large swaths of the lunar surface and inventing exotic equipment to extract the isotope from the moon dust.
The role of NASA’s Artemis program in lunar mining endeavors
NASA’s Artemis program of sending humans to the Moon is a step towards these possibilities. Artemis’ end vision is to create a permanent human presence on the Moon, thus preparing for future mining and potentially bringing helium-3 to Earth. Artemis is not just a trip to the Moon but a new race tied to the value of resources that can be mined on the lunar surface.
Similar goals are being prepared by countries such as the United States, China, and Russia. For instance, China has already carried out experiments with lunar helium-3 in its Chang’e missions and plans to continue the experiment. Cooperation with countries such as Japan or Australia provides evidence of collaboration in this new epoch of space activity.