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Russia to Mine on the Moon by 2020

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the no-shortage-of-volunteer-workers dept.

sxmjmae writes to tell us News.com is reporting that Russia has unveiled plans to establish a permanent mining operation on the moon by 2020 in order to extract the rare isotope Helium-3. From the article: "Helium-3 is a non-radioactive isotope of helium that can be used in nuclear fusion. Rare on earth but plentiful on the moon, it is seen by some experts as an ideal fuel because it is powerful, non-polluting and generates almost no radioactive by-product."

8 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Had to be said.. by Tha_Big_Guy23 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's go ahead and get this one out of the way...

    In Soviet Russia, the moon mines you...

    --
    If you're looking here for something insightful or thought provoking, you're probably looking in the wrong place.
  2. I love russia by inter+alias · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Even if they don't make it there (I think they will), they will reinvigorate the space race. I hope.

  3. Maybe... by doctor_nation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the energy companies (i.e. oil) can be convinced that fusion is the next big energy source, I can see them ponying up the dollars to make this happen. Big investment up front for an even bigger possible return later on. It would certainly be easier to generate funds for doing this for business that it will be/is for scientific purposes.

  4. Can they use Helium-3 yet? by dannytaggart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do they have a working prototype of a Helium-3 power plant? I have a feeling this is an Energia propaganda piece.

    --
    PimpMyMazda.com - Crazy mods to a 2002 Mazda Protege DX.
  5. A bit early perhaps by Councilor+Hart · · Score: 5, Informative
    Nuclear fusion is not expected by 2020, so it's a bit premature.

    Helium-3 is also not necessary to archive fusion. Deuterium-tritium reactions will also work, and you don't have to go to the moon to get those elements. Deuterium can be extracted from the sea and tritium can be created in situ by reactions with lithium embedded in the wall of the reactor.
    The benefit of using helium 3 is that you bypass the radioactive element tritium.

    It's a good idea for the long term, but let us first try to get a working reactor, shall we?

  6. How much mining? Orbital vectors etc.... by Tragek · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How much mass would have to be removed from the moon (percentage wise) before there would be a noticable effect on the orbit of the moon, or the tides. Which would come first?

  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. Re:All I gotta say is... by WinkyN · · Score: 5, Informative

    Russia may be poor, but their predecessors the Soviets landed unmanned probes on the lunar surface. Here's a Wikipedia link for those missions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_programme

    Many of the attempts failed, but later missions return lunar rock and dust samples as well as included robotic rovers to move across the lunar surface.