Chapter 9 - EMD Memoir 101 - Nuclear Power and Associated Environmental Issues in the Transition of Exploration and Mining on Earth to the Development of Off-World Natural Resources in the 21st Century

Mining & Minerals - Evaluations / Off-World Exploration, Mining, & Technology

Michael D. Campbell, et al., wraps up Memoir 101 by concluding that fusion power will not likely be available for many decades. In the meantime, the existing fission power and natural gas will provide the energy for generating electricity on the grid-scale in the U.S. and overseas, the former for also powering off-world exploration and mining in the foreseeable future. During the past ten years, China, Japan, India, and other countries have mounted serious missions to explore the Moon and elsewhere. Recent exploration discoveries by Japan and the U.S. on the Moon may mark the beginning of a new race to the Moon and into space to explore for and develop natural resources, including water (from dark craters to make hydrogen for fuel and oxygen, etc.), nuclear minerals (uranium, thorium, and helium-3),rare-earth minerals, and other industrial commodities needed for use in space and on Earth in the decades ahead.

The authors also conclude that it is important to initiate serious dialogue now as we begin the transition of mining on Earth to off-world operations, which will require decades before such industrial operations are possible. Small steps now will lead to big steps in the future as humans begin to establish bases on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, perhaps sooner than later.