Russia may be left without access to 16 quadrillion riches on the moon
Leading space powers entered the competition for the right to possess extraterrestrial wealth. Yes, that leading, even tiny Luxembourg is ready to develop minerals ... in the asteroid belt. That's just modern Russia, unfortunately, is not among the leaders of the race. The respected French publication Le Figaro indicated that China has taken the traditional place of our country as a rival to the United States in space.
The United States of America was ahead of the USSR, the first to send astronauts to the moon. The last Soviet spacecraft, Luna-24, was successfully sent to the Earth’s satellite back in 1976. The next one, “Luna-25”, was supposed to fly back in 2014, but things are still there. The dates have again been postponed, already in 2021.
The US and China have more ambitious plans. President Trump has set the task of sending an expedition with the American astronauts on board again in 2024 to the moon. For this purpose, the superheavy SLS launch vehicle is being developed, and NASA has the Orion spacecraft designed for such flights. The PRC has its own lunar program. Within its framework, the Chinese slashed the Americans slap in the face by sending their device to the back of the earth's satellite in early 2019.
A logical question arises, and because of what the relapse of the lunar race occurred? Is it really all about the personal ambitions of Donald Trump or the Chinese leadership, which intends to prove something to its opponents?
Vladislav Shevchenko, head of the moon’s research department, explains that the issue lies not so much in political or even a scientific plane, how many in the field economics:
As an example, the expert cites such a rare-earth element as indium, which is used in the manufacture of touch screens. On our planet, the reserves of this substance are rapidly depleted.
Scientists call the asteroid belt as extraterrestrial mines of the future. And technological capabilities allow their development and delivery of rare metals to Earth. But there is a simpler way. The fact is that fragments of asteroids fell on the moon for millions of years, which seriously affected its relief. According to various estimates, from 50% to 70% of the minerals contained in asteroids remained on the lunar surface. Their cost can reach an incredible 16 quadrillion dollars. Moreover, for their development there is no need to dig deep mines.
Those who are the first to begin the development of the Earth's satellite can literally get rich by collecting rare earths on the Moon. According to Vladislav Shevchenko, the leading powers are already holding meetings on how it will be divided between those who reach it. At the same time, the expert does not hide his chagrin due to the passivity of the Russian authorities:
However, recently we started talking about the possibility of sending a manned expedition to the moon with us. For example, Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roskosmos, actively communicated with academicians of the RAS on this subject. He declared:
One can understand Rogozin’s interest in cooperation with other players, most likely China. Russian expert Yuri Kostitsyn believes that our space industry is completely unprepared for manned flights to Earth’s satellite today. Calculations are underway, even a place for landing has been chosen, but everything is very, very far from the implementation stage. In order not to be left with nothing, one will have to work at a breakneck pace, but this can be prevented by a budget deficit and staff shortages.
The aforementioned Vladislav Shevchenko explained that the experienced specialists either retired or died, and the young did not have the corresponding experience, since for decades they had not been set such large-scale tasks. Young people will need time to "understand everything" and "re-learn." Unfortunately, it is likely that the lack of a systematic approach to the industry in previous decades could cause Russia's next loss in the new lunar race.
The United States of America was ahead of the USSR, the first to send astronauts to the moon. The last Soviet spacecraft, Luna-24, was successfully sent to the Earth’s satellite back in 1976. The next one, “Luna-25”, was supposed to fly back in 2014, but things are still there. The dates have again been postponed, already in 2021.
The US and China have more ambitious plans. President Trump has set the task of sending an expedition with the American astronauts on board again in 2024 to the moon. For this purpose, the superheavy SLS launch vehicle is being developed, and NASA has the Orion spacecraft designed for such flights. The PRC has its own lunar program. Within its framework, the Chinese slashed the Americans slap in the face by sending their device to the back of the earth's satellite in early 2019.
A logical question arises, and because of what the relapse of the lunar race occurred? Is it really all about the personal ambitions of Donald Trump or the Chinese leadership, which intends to prove something to its opponents?
Vladislav Shevchenko, head of the moon’s research department, explains that the issue lies not so much in political or even a scientific plane, how many in the field economics:
From the moon we can get rare metals that have already ended or are ending on Earth. And that means the end to using high of technologies and high-tech.
As an example, the expert cites such a rare-earth element as indium, which is used in the manufacture of touch screens. On our planet, the reserves of this substance are rapidly depleted.
Scientists call the asteroid belt as extraterrestrial mines of the future. And technological capabilities allow their development and delivery of rare metals to Earth. But there is a simpler way. The fact is that fragments of asteroids fell on the moon for millions of years, which seriously affected its relief. According to various estimates, from 50% to 70% of the minerals contained in asteroids remained on the lunar surface. Their cost can reach an incredible 16 quadrillion dollars. Moreover, for their development there is no need to dig deep mines.
Those who are the first to begin the development of the Earth's satellite can literally get rich by collecting rare earths on the Moon. According to Vladislav Shevchenko, the leading powers are already holding meetings on how it will be divided between those who reach it. At the same time, the expert does not hide his chagrin due to the passivity of the Russian authorities:
The authorities postpone the next launches, and yet it will end in that we can be too late for the analysis of natural resources on the moon.
However, recently we started talking about the possibility of sending a manned expedition to the moon with us. For example, Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roskosmos, actively communicated with academicians of the RAS on this subject. He declared:
We are mainly focused not on the orbit, that is, not on the Gateway project, but, most likely, on the formation of either a national, but it would be better, of course, international scientific visited base (on the lunar surface).
One can understand Rogozin’s interest in cooperation with other players, most likely China. Russian expert Yuri Kostitsyn believes that our space industry is completely unprepared for manned flights to Earth’s satellite today. Calculations are underway, even a place for landing has been chosen, but everything is very, very far from the implementation stage. In order not to be left with nothing, one will have to work at a breakneck pace, but this can be prevented by a budget deficit and staff shortages.
The aforementioned Vladislav Shevchenko explained that the experienced specialists either retired or died, and the young did not have the corresponding experience, since for decades they had not been set such large-scale tasks. Young people will need time to "understand everything" and "re-learn." Unfortunately, it is likely that the lack of a systematic approach to the industry in previous decades could cause Russia's next loss in the new lunar race.
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