The Moon and Mars - The Saga Begins
Dumping Ground, Mineral Extraction, or the Human Future?
In 2026 we will be returning to the surface of the Moon for the first time in half a century. The last time humans left their foot prints on the Moon was December 19, 1972, with the completion of the Apollo 17 mission. The Artemis missions have already begun. (Artemis is the goddess of the Moon.) In 2008, NASA plans to send astronauts to a lunar space station.
Although it seems that we are on our way, there are many political, environmental, and technical issues that we need to address.
Outer space exploration and development has been governed by international law according to The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which basically says that no nation can claim ownership of part or all the bodies of the solar system, but they can extract minerals. There is no provision for international parks or preservation. There are no environmental provisions to keep the Moon or Mars from becoming dumping grounds or to minimize the ravages of mining. Nothing has been said about settlements except that ships and vessels will be governed by the national law of their owners.
It seems that the first use of the Moon may be as a burial ground and a dump.
Like the world’s oceans, the Moon is now being seen as a dumping ground. The world’s first commercial moon lander, Peregrine, ferried the remains of 70 people and one dog to the Moon. However, the craft was not able to land, and everything burned up on re-entry into the atmosphere. According to Reuters, there are plans by a Japanese soft drink company to leave a can with their beverage on the surface. Another effort is to build a cross made of lunar regolith or surface material. Other ideas are to make the Moon a dumping place for plastics and other forms of waste from Earth. Like the deserts of Earth, the Moon is considered a dry hostile landscape with no real value other than the minerals it is covering. The idea of parks and nature reserves seems distant because there is no real activity right now on the Moon.
Justin Ahasteen, executive director of the Navajo's Washington, D.C., office, said to USA Today. "Just as we protect revered sites on Earth like the Grand Canyon from becoming landfills or graveyards, we urge our government and the international community to adopt similar practices for the Moon."
However, the Navajo and other indigenous people revere and respect the Moon. It is a major part of their world view and spirituality. It is not just rock and dust but something sacred. In other words, our opposing perceptions and values about the Earth are being projected onto the Moon and our next destination, Mars.
For the time being, the goal of NASA and its current business partners is to establish a human presence on the Moon as a steppingstone to Mars. The business feasibility of mining rare earth elements and other resources does not currently exist, but it may in the future. The main item of interest is water. Contrary to common belief, there is water on the surface of the Moon on both its permanently shaded and sunlit areas. It appears to be closely bonded to other molecules on the lunar surface. Hydrogen has been found inside volcanic beads. This map from NASA shows that water is more likely to be found at the Lunar poles.
Who Own the Planets and Moons of the Solar System?
Technically no one does. On October 13, 2020, the United States and Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom signed the Artemis Accords. Based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, the Artemis Accords are a non-binding statement of principles. By 2024 a total of 36 countries had adopted the agreement, which governs the exploration and use of space for non-military purposes. China and Russia have not signed onto the Artemis Accords and are pursuing their own project – the International Lunar Research Station. The United States and its partners, as well as China and Russia, are all aiming for the south pole of the Moon. According to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, nations may not build military installations, conduct military maneuvers, nor test weapons on celestial bodies.
For the time being, the major issue is the use of natural lunar materials to provide housing, breathable air, and potable water. One major uncertainty is the low gravity on the Moon and how that will affect humans over time. According to the National Institutes of Health, the effects of microgravity can lead to bone loss, the weakening of muscles we use to overcome gravity, changes in fluid levels including blood plasma, the loss of cardiovascular muscle, and changes in blood flow and pressure. The Russians have demonstrated that these effects can be mitigated for up to one year by exercise. However, how well this will work on long-term missions is not known. As we have seen in space movies, creating artificial gravity environments and never-ending tread mills may be the longer-term solution.
Early Days
We are just beginning our efforts to return to the Moon for the first time in a half century. This time we are planning to stay. For the first time, the series of lunar missions is being made by a public-private partnership - a combination of government and commercial companies.
Artemis 1 was an uncrewed moon-orbiting mission from December 16 to November 11, 2022. Artemis II, planned for September 2025, will be a crewed mission that will orbit the Moon. Artemis III, scheduled for September 2026. will land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole. Artemis IV in 2028 will be the first mission to the Lunar Gateway Space Station. The station will be similar to the International Space Station that orbits the Earth. This will be the first space station that will not be in low earth orbit. The parts are under construction and will be launched over the next several years.
Elon Musk, the founder of Space X plans on landing on Mars by 2029 and establishing a self-sustaining settlement by 2050. Musk sees Mars as a refuge for humans from the vagaries of nuclear war and the many threats to the survival of our species. Many experts call these plans unrealistic while others cite the presence of water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Some feel that the absence of a magnetosphere to shield explorers and settlers from harmful radiation and the absence of breathable air will prevent colonization in the near term or preclude it altogether.
We stand on the threshold of a new and unprecedented chapter in human history. Just as the Moon governs the tides, it seems that we are also being caught up in its pull.
Thank you for your insightful article Dr Pozos. Greetings from the UK.