"Private Companies Propel Lunar Economy with Moon Mining Initiatives"
Private companies, along with NASA's Artemis Program, are accelerating plans to utilize the moon for landing, living, and exploration. The focus is on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves extracting oxygen, water, and other materials for rocket fuel and life-support systems. The recent Space Resources Roundtable discussed lunar economic models, lab tests, and legal issues. The private sector, including companies like Intuitive Machines, is playing a major role in lunar services. NASA is blueprinting long-term ISRU goals and considering industry engagement. Prospective water ice within lunar craters is of interest, but economic extraction and refining remain uncertain. Establishing infrastructure on the moon is seen as crucial for future exploration and utilization.
