The race to mine helium-3 on the Moon

The new space race is no longer about who gets to the Moon first, but who controls the resources there.

Astronaut Harrison Schmitt collects Moon rock samples during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972 - Photo: AFP/nASA

Recently, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officially banned Chinese citizens from participating in all space programs, even if they have US visas.

The decision has deprived Chinese students, researchers and contractors of access to NASA facilities, networks and documents, and shows how the US-China space race is intensifying.

19 million USD/kg

The US and China are both working to land astronauts on the Moon in the next few years. NASA plans to launch the Artemis 2 mission early next year, which will send astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth, and then continue with the Artemis 3 mission, which will land humans on the Moon’s south pole in 2027 (which would also be the first human landing on the Moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972).

Meanwhile, China has pledged to carry out the first manned moon landing mission before 2030, and has recently announced major advances in the necessary equipment, including the Long March 10 rocket and the Lanyue lunar lander.

The two countries are leading missions to explore the Moon's south pole, with the goal of landing at strategic locations to build bases and access resources such as water ice and sunlight - essential elements for maintaining a long-term presence on the lunar surface.

The Conversation notes that the first nation to land on the Moon could gain influence in shaping the rules governing space and the future lunar economy , especially for private companies. This has sparked talk of a “strategic infrastructure race” or even a “trade war” in space.

The race isn't limited to just countries. In early September, Forbes reported that US-based startup Interlune was "racing to be the first to mine helium on the Moon."

Helium can be used in a variety of fields, from quantum computers to nuclear fusion. Helium-3 is a rare and non-radioactive isotope on Earth, but more common on the Moon, valued at $19 million per kilogram.

One ton of helium-3 is capable of generating 1.5 times more energy than the Soviet Union's Tsar Bomba nuclear weapon.

Start-ups are also developing ways to mine water and minerals on the Moon to produce rocket fuel or build structures there, such as Starpath and iSpace. Others, like AstroForge, want to mine precious metals from asteroids, reducing the need to mine resources on Earth.

Tense race

Senior NASA officials admit the world is witnessing a "second space race." Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said China is aiming to put astronauts on the Moon before the US.

"The Chinese want to go back to the moon before us. That's not going to happen. America has led in space in the past, and we will continue to lead in the future," he said on September 10.

The timelines the US has set for its return to the Moon appear to put Washington in the lead, but during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing earlier this month, experts said it is actually possible the US could lose the race to the Moon to China.

One of the reasons cited is the speed of development of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft (which will serve as the lunar lander for the Artemis 3 mission), along with the need for multiple refueling missions to get Starship to the Moon.

Several US senators have warned that China's dominance of lunar resources could pose a serious threat to US strategic and technological interests.

Chinese officials, on the other hand, say US concerns are exaggerated. Last year, Li Yingliang, director of the Technology Department of the China Manned Space Administration, said that space exploration should be seen as a “common mission of mankind.”

However, Beijing also does not hide its ambition to build a permanent base on the Moon and develop long-distance manned space missions.

For years, the US Congress has restricted NASA from working with China, citing national security risks. Washington's suspicion of Beijing has grown as China's space program has made rapid progress.

Precious resources

The moon is known to be rich in valuable resources such as rare earth minerals, titanium, iron, and especially helium, which plays an important role in many industries, from advanced electronics to medical technology.

Estimates of the total value of these resources range from billions to trillions of dollars. Analysts note that while the Moon could be a lucrative place to make money, it would be a very long-term investment, as the technology needed to mine the Moon and bring its resources back to Earth is still a long way off.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-dua-khai-thac-helium-3-tren-mat-trang-20250914232545838.htm