Why are Americans so eager for the Moon, what will they mine there? And what's in it for Belarusians? A Belarusian astrophysicist explains

Christina Koch, participant of the 'Artemis-2' mission, looks at Earth. Photo: NASA

The Main Question About the Moon

Now, as astronauts from the 'Artemis-2' mission have headed to the Moon, many people online are sharing doubts that this mission is even real. The myth that the American Moon landings 50 years ago were filmed in Hollywood has gained a second wind.

Ivan has experience working on Wikipedia and has therefore thoroughly studied the arguments of conspiracy theorists — he had to ensure these ideas didn't make it into Wikipedia. And here's what he suggests they consider:

“Americans delivered lunar soil to Earth, and its main characteristics match the soil delivered from the Moon by Soviet automatic stations. Moreover, Americans brought about 380 kg during all expeditions, while Soviet stations brought about 300 grams. 

This soil is in laboratories all over the world, and it is still being studied today. And if you have an idea for an interesting study about this soil, you can send it to NASA, and they might send you a few grams of that soil.”

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Ivan Siutsou. Photo: Olga Turtsevich / Facebook

There are, however, conspiracy theorists who go further and say that although the soil is lunar, Americans also delivered it with the help of automatic stations. But, Siutsou laughs, all this is just an attempt to save a conspiracy theory.

Humanity is Eager for the Moon. It's More Ambitious Than It Seems at First Glance

Why is the world so fascinated by the current mission? Because it turns out that a flight to the Moon is not a unique achievement, and modern technologies are much better than in 1969, when man first appeared on the Moon.

Ivan reminds us that although technologies have improved, we haven't been on the Moon since 1972. And current missions are still unique, because today Americans' desires are much more ambitious:

“The goal of the 'Apollo' program was to be the first to set foot on the Moon, to show that America is the leading space power. In the current 'Artemis' program, prestige is also very important, but there is also a more substantial part, because as a result, a permanent base should appear on the Moon.

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Canadian Jeremy Hansen shaves during his journey to the Moon. Photo: NASA

Such a base could be a good springboard for expeditions to other planets, because launching from the Moon is much easier. A ship needs to have a much lower speed to break away from the Moon than if it were launching from Earth.”

Accordingly, Siutsou says, such a rocket would require much less fuel. The current SLS rocket, which took the 'Artemis-2' participants to the Moon, is the size of a ten-story building, while a two-story building-sized rocket would be sufficient for a Moon launch.

Therefore, according to Ivan, if a permanent base appears on the Moon, it will greatly contribute to the exploration of other planets in the Solar System. By the way, will all those ambitious plans come true?

“I think that if nothing unexpected like a world war happens, these plans will come true, because if the US doesn't build the base, China will. They also have plans to build a base on the Moon, but in the mid-2030s, while the US wants to complete it by 2030 (Belarus intends to help China and Russia build that base — NN). 

Otherwise, their plans are identical. Both China and the US intend to explore the Solar System, relying on a lunar base. If there's money, there will be a base; from a technical point of view, there are no obstacles,” Siutsou muses.

Besides building a base, humanity might find another interesting occupation on the Moon. We're talking about resource extraction, and particularly often mentioned in this context is helium-3 — a potential and very energy-efficient fuel for fusion-based engines currently under development. This helium-3 is also safe, environmentally friendly, and useful for cooling equipment to very low temperatures, which is necessary for the operation of quantum computers. It is very difficult to obtain on Earth, but there is plenty of this isotope on the Moon.

It is unclear how helium-3 extraction on the Moon could be organized, but the first contracts for its supply have already been signed. Ivan, however, has questions about how the extraction of other resources on the Moon could be carried out:

“To launch a rocket from the Moon into space is much easier than from Earth, but it's still expensive. And helium-3 is probably the only thing that would be easier to extract on the Moon than on Earth.”

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Photo: NASA

Thus, these are times of a new space, or even scientific, race between China and the United States. This, Siutsou believes, is very beneficial for science — because in such a case, politicians don't spare money for it.

Will 'Orion' Return Safely to Earth?

The current flight is a test flight to check which ship systems require improvements. Certain problems have already emerged: including the famous ship's toilet, which partially broke several times, and, for example, some wires that for some reason overheat.

Ivan says that the 'Orion' crew has already had one serious incident that was little talked about in the media:

“Their helium pressurization system in the tanks, needed for fuel to flow and burn, failed, and the crew had to switch to the backup system. If both of these systems had broken during the flight, the crew would have been in big trouble. There would be no talk of scientific research; the question would be how to bring the people back alive.

It is impossible to guarantee them complete safety, but all efforts will be made.”

NASA specialists, Ivan says, are very paranoid – and the scientist likes this:

“They always do everything step-by-step, demanding safety at every stage. In the next mission, they will test the docking systems with the lunar module, which will later land on the Moon; this module will be launched by a different rocket. And only after that mission will there be a lunar landing.”

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Christina Koch aboard 'Orion'. Photo: NASA

Now, however, the most complex stages of the mission have already been passed, and the flight trajectory itself will guide 'Orion' back to Earth: Ivan believes this will happen even if all the ship's propulsion-related systems break down. 

Space Exploration Has Practical Meaning — Most Likely, You Will Feel It Yourself

We've sorted out the technical side and the plans. But why all this? Why strive for space when there are plenty of problems on Earth?

Ivan suggests that the exploration of the Moon, and potentially Mars, will increase humanity's resilience — arguing that if something happens to Earthlings, but there are independent bases on other planets, it will give humanity a chance to survive. And in every new place, Ivan believes, people will gain new opportunities.

But even without this, space exploration will bring benefits, tangible even for us. Ivan connects this with discussions about the benefits of fundamental science versus applied science — for example, we discovered what an atom is made of, but what do we get from that?

“The main outcome of these phenomena for the ordinary person are spin-offs, inventions developed from technologies that were created for specific scientific projects. For example, CERN accelerates protons and positrons in the Large Hadron Collider, directs them into each other, and observes what happens. 

It seems they are just wasting money. But then it turns out that the scientists at CERN created the internet as we know it, because they needed it for their work,” Ivan explains.

Earlier space exploration programs also gifted people technologies that we use daily. For example, this includes memory foam for mattresses and pillows, once created to alleviate G-forces in spacecraft. Or microchips — they weren't created for 'Apollo', but NASA purchased so many that it stimulated the development of an entire industry.

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Photo: NASA

However, space exploration also has great philosophical meaning:

“In my opinion, the most important thing here is that humanity has reached the next peak of its development. It seems to me that when we flew to the Moon in the 70s, that was our peak, and now we are returning there, meaning we have reached or even surpassed that same point.

Science fiction writers have often warned that if we hide in our cocoon and focus on internal affairs, improving life on Earth and not looking at the stars, it could end badly. I think we should look at the stars. Now we are doing it again, and that is a positive sign.”

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