By placing a lunar resource processing facility near the lunar south pole, solar-generated electrical power would allow for nearly constant operation close to water ice sources. The lunar south pole features a region with crater rims exposed to near constant solar illumination, yet the interior of the craters are permanently shaded from sunlight, and retain significant amounts of water ice in their interior. ![]() Trace gas amounts are unlikely to be useful for in situ resource utilization.ĭaylight on the Moon lasts approximately two weeks, followed by approximately two weeks of night, while both lunar poles are illuminated almost constantly. The total mass of the Moon's exosphere is roughly 25,000 kilograms (55,000 lb) with a surface pressure of 3×10 −15 bar (2×10 −12 torr). However, these are trace gases in very low concentration. Several processes can explain the presence of trace gases on the Moon: high energy photons or solar winds reacting with materials on the lunar surface, evaporation of lunar regolith, material deposits from comets and meteoroids, and out-gassing from inside the Moon. Studies from Apollo 17's Lunar Atmospheric Composition Experiment (LACE) show that the lunar exosphere contains trace amounts of hydrogen (H 2), helium (He), argon (Ar), and possibly ammonia (NH 3), carbon dioxide (CO 2), and methane (CH 4). The atomic oxygen content in the regolith is estimated at 45% by weight. Among the more abundant are oxygen, iron and silicon. Elements known to be present on the lunar surface include, among others, hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), silicon (Si), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn) and titanium (Ti). Solar power, oxygen, and metals are abundant resources on the Moon. Resources Lunar surface chemical composition Compound Scouting from lunar orbit by a few space agencies is ongoing, and landers and rovers are scouting resources and concentrations in situ (see: List of missions to the Moon). For in situ resource utilization (ISRU) to be applied successfully on the Moon, landing site selection is imperative, as well as identifying suitable surface operations and technologies. ![]() Further lunar exploration will reveal additional concentrations of economically useful materials, and whether or not these will be economically exploitable will depend on the value placed on them and on the energy and infrastructure available to support their extraction. The Moon is known to be poor in carbon and nitrogen, and rich in metals and in atomic oxygen, but their distribution and concentrations are still unknown. Metals and other elements for local industry may be obtained from the various minerals found in regolith. Volatiles from permanently shadowed craters may provide methane ( CHĢ) and carbon monoxide (CO). Water ice can provide water for radiation shielding, life-support, oxygen and rocket propellant feedstock. Oxygen from lunar regolith oxides can be a source for metabolic oxygen and rocket propellant oxidizer. Regolith ( lunar soil) is the easiest product to obtain it can provide radiation and micrometeoroid protection as well as construction and paving material by melting. Lunar materials could facilitate continued exploration of the Moon itself, facilitate scientific and economic activity in the vicinity of both Earth and Moon (so-called cislunar space), or they could be imported to the Earth's surface where they would contribute directly to the global economy. The determination of resource availability will drive the selection of sites for human settlement. Insights about lunar resources gained from orbit and sample-return missions have greatly enhanced the understanding of the potential for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) at the Moon, but that knowledge is not yet sufficient to fully justify the commitment of large financial resources to implement an ISRU-based campaign. The use of resources on the Moon may provide a means of reducing the cost and risk of lunar exploration and beyond. ![]() Potential lunar resources may encompass processable materials such as volatiles and minerals, along with geologic structures such as lava tubes that, together, might enable lunar habitation. The Moon bears substantial natural resources which could be exploited in the future. A lunar anorthosite rock collected by the Apollo 16 crew from near the Descartes crater
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