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#0183;#32;Processes and energy costs for mining lunar Helium3 Sviatoslavsky, I. N. Abstract. Preliminary investigations show that obtaining He3 from the moon is technically feasible and economically viable. With the exception of beneficiation, the proposed procedures are state of the art. Mass of equipment needed from earth
American Helium Inc generally serves the healthcare, military, nuclear, electronics, aviation, and research sectors with its helium supply. Recently, E stated its difficulties in raising enough capital to continue planned acquisition, exploration, and development within the helium energy sector, and has decided to exit the industry.
A complete energy payback from a D/He3 fusion reactor utilizing lunar He3 is approx. 80, providing ample incentive for commercial investment is forthcoming. Byproducts will be of great value to the resupply of a permanent lunar base and enhancement of space exploration.
Europe isnt the only one getting on board of the lunar mining train. Both India and China have floated ideas about extracting Helium3 from the Earths natural satellite.
Another issue, he notes, is that helium3 is unevenly distributed across the moon, which means extra prospecting and exploration costs before any mining could go ead. For Crawford, like Saydam, the most realistic business case for lunar mining is the chance to exploit H20. He also backs the use of water to refuel satellites.
With fossil fuels running out and global energy demand increasing, the need for alternative energy sources is apparent. Nuclear fusion using Helium3 may be a solution. Helium3 is a rare isotope on Earth, but it is abundant on the Moon. Throughout the space community lunar Helium3 is often cited as a major reason to return to the Moon. Despite the potential of lunar Helium3 mining, little
#0183;#32;Other questions concern the not inconsiderable practicalities associated with getting to the Moon, mining and superheating large quantities of lunar rock ( have reported a suggestion of roughly one million tons of lunar soil being needed to be mined and processed for every 70 tonnes of helium3 yield), and then getting the precious cargo back to the Earth.
begingroup Lunar Helium3 and Fusion Power, published by NASA in 1988, on pp2122 envisaged the use of draglines or ballistic miners to dig several small pits per of the 3He occurs in sub 50 micrometre regolith. The mined material would be screen to discard the plus 4 mm size fraction. The remaining sub 4 mm material would be electrostatically treated amp; then heated to 700 C to
of lunar helium3 to earth can compete in energy equivalent price with steam coal (Schmitt, 2006). Defining the distribution and concentration of this resource on the Moon and making it available to humankind, as well as to a successful space settlement, will require
Helium is usually transported in a gas form, compressed in steel cylinders. When it comes to larger amounts it is shipped as a liquid in insulated containers, saving shipping costs. According to a Geological Survey report, almost 33% of the Helium the used last year went to cryogenics.
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An educational movie from the early 90''s explaining how lunar mining of the Helium3 isotope (along with water and other gases) from lunar regolith could be
#0183;#32;It has been calculated that there are about 1,100,000 metric tons of helium3 on the lunar surface down to a depth of a few meters, and that about 40 tons of helium3 enough to fill the cargo
#0183;#32;Processes and energy costs for mining lunar Helium3 Preliminary investigations show that obtaining He3 from the moon is technically feasible and economically viable. With the exception of beneficiation, the proposed procedures are state of the art. Mass of equipment needed from earth is of some concern, but resupply will eventually be ameliorated by the use of titanium from indigenous
Mining the moon for helium3 would offer a unique opportunity to acquire those resources as byproducts. Other opportunities might be possible through the sale of lowcost access to space.
A complete energy payback from a D/He3 fusion reactor utilizing lunar He3 is approx. 80, providing ample incentive for commercial investment is forthcoming. Byproducts will be of great value to the resupply of a permanent lunar base and enhancement of space exploration.
As I researched lunar mining and articles about helium3 fusion for the novel, The facts are there is no energy problem, we have sufficient lowcost hydrocarbons and coal for thousands of years.
The costs run high and the returns are not immediate but extraterrestrial mining is now within the realms of the probable. Beyond gaining access to precious commodities, many in the space industry
The idea of harvesting a clean and efficient form of energy from the Moon has stimulated science fiction and fact in recent decades. Unlike Earth, which is protected by its magnetic field, the Moon has been bombarded with large quantities of Helium3 by the solar wind. It is thought that this isotope could provide safer nuclear energy in a fusion reactor, since it is not radioactive and would
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