The Moon: The New Gold Rush
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The Moon is not made out of cheese, unfortunately, but instead is made up of rare Earth elements and the center possibly having an Iron core. Scientist know the Moon surface has deposits of water and ice from comets and asteroids striking the surface. Rocks from the surfaces show that the Moon is rich in minerals. Not to mention, the Moon does boost significant potential for tourist that enjoy climbing and spelunking. Why is the Moon the new gold rush? What is it's significance besides its ability to help with our tides and keep Earth on our tilted axis (critical for seasons)?
According to Michio Kaku, China makes up about 97 percent of the world's trade and holding about 30 percent of the Earth's total supply of rare Earth elements. The elements aren't as rare as the name implies, but they are important for modern technologies. Which are getting more and more complicated every year, as well as having more people around the world consume vast amounts of technology. In places like America or East Asia, many people will constantly buy newer tech pieces every year. Since China controls 97 percent, it can control the market. There are newer mines in Japan, however, and according to The Verge companies will just reuse old methods in mining whenever China raises prices. (China did raise it's prices a few years ago causing scares) The problem is however, the supply of these rare elements will be depleted in a few decades (unless of course we find better materials). The Moon can provide the Earth with it's supply of rare Earth elements.
A long...long time ago the Earth and the Moon were one, like lovers in mythology, until they split leaving a gaping hole in the Earth. Until the gravitational pulls returned our planet and moon to spherical shapes. This is why the Moon has similar elements as the Earth. Creating factories on the Moon could very well be the next biggest step for mankind. Not to mention the billions of dollars that people can make mining the moon; this of course being speculation, as of today no one really knows the actual cost in operating these factories. The water from the surface could be converted to oxygen and even be used for farming. This will help any colonies to be self-sustaining. It has been shown that the ground or "dirt" of the Moon can be blasted with microwaves to create ceramic bricks or ceramics, providing building materials for the companies and colonist.
Radiation does pose a gigantic threat on the Moon; and anywhere else in space. So possibly creating shelters in the lava tubes in the Moon could be a wonderful idea. This would provide a shelter from radiation and from impact of various asteroids and comets. Theses tubes could also hold ice and possibly more elements. Colonist could potentially spread out along certain tubes and make farms for vegetables and legumes. Vegetation has been proven to grow with proper lighting and water, they do not necessarily need soil but just nutrients. However, there is the problem with the gravitation causing harm to the human and animal bodies for long periods of time. Making it a priority to have the shelters with the same gravitation pressure as on Earth to help against bone loss and optic nerve destruction (which is caused by radiation as well).
Helium-3 could be on the surface of the moon, which can be used in fusion. Unlike Hydrogen, which produce harmful neutrons, Hemlium-3 produces a excess proton which can be deflected by electromagnetic fields. The fusion reactor can create vast amounts of energy with little waste, which is perfect for the next stage of Human kind. It isn't the perfect solution for energy but it is one step closer to a better one. Moon Express is a company that is sending a robot to the moon to see where these elements are located and their quantity. They would like to be the first company to set up on the moon...and make money. They are the first company to be authorized to just so, so perhaps the future generation will rely on Moon Express for energy and mining needs of the moon.
The future shouldn't solely rely on the Moon for elements or colonist experiments but it can be used as an important outpost for future exploration. Fuel stations can be built in its orbit or on its surface; bigger space ships could blast off in the lower gravitational tug allowing for the ships to use less fuel or blast off faster. There are still many kinks that need to be worked out, but human kind has the brain power to solve them. It seems that Politics might set back human progress and we might need to rely on the scientist, artist, writers, business people, and etc to help create a better future. For it is these people, not politicians, that really help shape human history.
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