Space Mining for Critical Metals to Aid Clean Energy Transition

Abstract

Significant progress has been achieved since the historic Apollo mission of 1969, propelling the concept of space mining for critical metals into the spotlight as a vital contributor to the clean energy transition. Recent advances in lunar exploration, typified by NASA's Artemis program, have unveiled promising indications of critical metals adorning the moon's surface, including platinum group metals, nickel, iron, and rare earth elements (REEs). Concurrently, the scientific community has cast its gaze upon Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), envisaging rich and diverse resource prospects awaiting exploitation. This study embarks on an exploration of these advancements in space exploration, focusing on the identification of prospective resources both on the lunar landscape and within NEAs, with a particular emphasis on critical metals integral to the proliferation of green energy technologies. Delving deeper, this investigation unveils the technological prerequisites essential for the realization of space mining operations, encompassing state-of-the-art exploration systems, robotic mining platforms, and innovative in-situ resource utilization techniques. Additionally, it delves into the complexities and opportunities inherent to mining within the KREEP lunar region. Drawing from a wealth of secondary data and rigorous laboratory examinations of lunar meteorite samples, this study provides compelling evidence of the presence of critical minerals tantalizingly close to the lunar surface, poised for extraction. These findings collectively underscore the profound potential of space mining as an indispensable cornerstone in our pursuit of sustainable, green energy solutions.