During the California Gold Rush, the 49ers who pan for gold had no idea where they could strike it rich. They had little further information outside word of mouth.
The University of Central Florida wants to improve the chances of lunar prospectors finding gold, which on the moon consists of abundant water ice deposits that can be converted into materials like fuel for space voyages.
A team lead by planetary scientist Kevin Cannon created an Ice Favorability Index. The geological model maps the landscape and describes how ice forms at the poles of the moon, including craters that may contain ice deposits.
The model predicts what asteroid impacts on the moon’s surface would do to ice deposits that are found meters below the surface. It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Icarus.
“Despite being our closest neighbor, we still don’t know a lot about water on the moon, especially how much there is beneath the surface,” Cannon says. “It’s important for us to consider the geologic processes that have gone on to better understand where we may find ice deposits and how to best get to them with the least amount of risk.”
The group took its cues from mining firms on Earth, which perform thorough geological research and collect core samples before investing in pricey extraction sites. Mining corporations perform field mapping, collect core samples from probable sites, and attempt to comprehend the geological processes that led to the creation of the specific mineral they are seeking for in an area of interest. In essence, before opting to spend money on drilling, they build a model of what a mining zone would be.
The UCF team adopted a similar strategy, running simulations in the lab and using information about the moon that had been gathered over time. Despite being unable to obtain core samples, they still had information from satellite surveys and the first lunar mission.
Despite being our closest neighbor, we still don’t know a lot about water on the moon, especially how much there is beneath the surface. It’s important for us to consider the geologic processes that have gone on to better understand where we may find ice deposits and how to best get to them with the least amount of risk.
Kevin Cannon
Why Mine the Moon
Human exploration of the solar system and beyond depends on the ability of spacecraft to launch and continue on their lengthy journeys. One of the challenges is fuel. Since there are no gas stations in space, spacecraft must carry more fuel with them on lengthy voyages, and this fuel is heavy. By producing fuel through moon mining, flying costs might be reduced because spacecraft wouldn’t need to transport more fuel.
Water ice can be purified and processed to produce both hydrogen and oxygen for propellant, according to several previously published studies. Sometime in the future, this process could be completed on the moon effectively producing a gas station for spacecraft. Asteroids may also provide similar resources for fuel.
Some believe a system of these “gas stations” would be the start of the industrialization of space.
Several private companies are exploring mining techniques to employ on the moon. According to the report, laws granting residents and businesses ownership rights over commodities extracted in space, including the moon, have been passed in both Luxembourg and the United States.
“The idea of mining the moon and asteroids isn’t science fiction anymore,” says UCF physics Professor and co-author Dan Britt. “There are teams around the world looking to find ways to make this happen and our work will help get us closer to making the idea a reality.”
The study was supported by NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute cooperative agreement with the Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) based at UCF.
