Mining Helium-3 On the Moon

Helium-3 is a very rare gas with the potential to fuel clean nuclear fusion power plants. However, one of the problems is that the nearest supply of helium-3 is on the Moon. This video by Christopher Barnatt discusses the nuclear physics, space exploration and global politics that may be involved in mining the Moon for helium-3.

More information can be found in the "Helium-3 Power Fact File" on ExplainingTheFuture.com

All visuals were produced for this video using LightWave and After Effects.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Helium-3
• Moon
• Mining
• Nuclear
• Fusion
• Power
• Space
• Race
• Lunar
• China
• Russia
• NASA
• Energy
• Future
• Studies
• Helium
• LightWave

[DoneWithDogma]

couldn't there be a possibiility that we mine the moon so much until it's mass decreases enough to disrupt our orbit, and ecosystems on the planet? possibly an apocalyptic situation?

[ExplainingTheFuture]

@DoneWithDogma Yes, we would have to be careful not to upset a delicate balance (not that the human race has much of a track record in not messing up the natural order!).

[barkasmedia]

wow that puppet is so live like! but why is the puppeteer not mentioned in the credits??

[ExplainingTheFuture]

@barkasmedia Please watch my more recent videos -- I've improved! :-)

[RCvolunteer1978]

well in 2011 China is still testing Rockets to send a man to the Moon We( USA) have No Space Shuttles over 8,000 people out of jobs Russains fail (Blown up)

in sending important US Space gear to the crew at the space sation.

[ExplainingTheFuture]

@RCvolunteer1978 Yes many things relating to our evolution into space are currently in a sorry state. However, SpaceX are achieving great things -- in the US -- with their Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket. So not quite all is lost.

[codywrite]

@DoneWithDogma just replace the mined portion with dirt from earth

[Nightwalker9001]

WTF IT DIDN'T SHOW THE WHOLE COMMENT ARRGG!!! SCREW IT I TOLD YOU ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU THINK!!

[Nightwalker9001]

You know Titan has oceans of methane, which is great rocket fuel, and enculadis, which also orbits Saturn is composed mostly of water, they would be great for space stations for re-fueling, also you could use mars for steel mining, and if you need a waste center you have Jupiter, and the moon has lots of heavy metals as well, or if you happen to go find a 30 km asteroid you could supply earth for 10000 years worth of platinum and much other materials as well, like gold, titanium, silicon and mu

[tylapple]

@DoneWithDogma @ExplainingTheFuture Do you two not realize that helium 3 weighs almost nothing? Even if we mined all the He-3 from the moon, it would not even change the moons mass enough to effect the oceans tides. On that note, the moon gains more mass in minor space rock collisions and space dust settlements every year than we could possibly take away by mining a gaseous substance. God speed to the Chinese, Russian, and American space programs.

[charlie29943]

The Moon has alot of effects on the Tides and botanical growing effects here on Earth. I would stongly advise all Nations interested in this eandeavor to please do some reasearch

before going gangbusters on this Project. We only have One Moon revolving this rock We

call Home.

[barkasmedia]

@ExplainingTheFuture i will Sir!