Mining on Moon

Humans will soon be able to mine on the Moon. But should we?

- Evie Kendal and Alan Duffy

By the end of this decade, nations and private companies may well be mining the surface of the Moon.

1. Why mine the Moon?

NASA's multibillion-dollar Artemis programme isn't just about sending astronauts back to the Moon. It's about paving the way for mining operations. China is also on a similar trajectory.

All of this has set in motion a new lunar race with private companies competing to figure out how to extract the Moon's resources, potentially selling it back to governments in a cosmic supply chain.

Currently, all supplies for space exploration are shipped from Earth, making essentials like water and fuel eye-wateringly expensive.

By the time a single litre of water reaches the Moon, its cost beats that of gold.