NASA is looking to develop resources on the moon that initially include oxygen and water, and eventually may expand to iron and rare earths. And has already taken steps toward excavating moon soil in 2032, a scientist said on Wednesday.
The U.S. space agency plans to return Americans to the moon as part of its Artemis mission. Thus, including the first woman and person of colour by 2025. And to learn from the mission to facilitate a trip to Mars.
A key part of the mission is advancing commercial opportunities in space. The agency is looking to quantify potential resources, including energy, water and lunar soil, as a goal to attract commercial investment, said Gerald Sanders, a rocket scientist at NASA‘s Johnston Space Centre for 35 years.
Developing access to resources on the moon will be key to cutting costs and developing a circular economy, Sanders said.
The Australian Space Agency involved in developing a semi-autonomous rover. It will take regolith samples on a NASA mission as early as 2026, said Samuel Webster, an assistant director at the agency.
The rover will demonstrate the collection of lunar soil that contains oxygen in the form of oxides.
Using separate equipment sent to the moon with the rover. NASA will aim to extract that oxygen, he said.