WorldWide Drilling Resource

Lunar Mining Industry is Evolving Adapted from a Press Release by PRWeb Mining resources on the moon may sound like a far-fetched idea, but it may be closer to reality than you realize, and Japan is ready to lead the way. In a recent announcement, ispace, Inc., a private lunar robotic exploration company, announced it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to jointly create a road map for lunar resource development. The goal is to combine their knowledge and resources to develop plans for creating an industry around lunar resource mining, delivery, and utilization. Based in Tokyo, Japan, ispace is working to develop a lunar mining business to cultivate the space resource market. The space industry is estimated to reach an estimated $90 billion in 2030, and the resource market is predicted to be at its core. The company intends to demonstrate its microrobotic technology for lunar exploration with plans to send a rover to the moon next year. This isn’t the only ambitious part of their plan. Over the next decade, the company plans to establish a high-frequency transporta- tion service to the moon and conduct exploration missions to map lunar resources. The mined products will be delivered to customers on and around the moon. “Space resource development is attracting a great deal of attention around the world,” said Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace. “We think it is important to actively participate in the rulemaking and commercialization while we are technologically competitive glob- ally with our HAKUTO project.” With this agreement, both parties will be considering the following three points in creat ing a lunar resource development industry: 1. A comprehensive plan for the space resource industry including necessary technologies and indus- trial value chains involving lunar resource mapping (including posi- tions, compositions, characteris- tics), mining, storage, delivery, sales, and utilization in space. 2. Role allocation between public and private sectors for research and development activities and public procurement, as well as the building of a national and an international framework needed for industry cre- ation. 3. Considerations for other neces- sary actions, including the expansion of relevant consortiums. In addi t ion, Japan recent ly an- nounced a national policy to strengthen the development of the space resource industry. Late last year, Japan’s legislators adopted a resolution to discuss the steps necessary to support the space resource industry. The Japanese Cabinet Office also introduced actions for space resource exploration and development as part of the 20-year implementation schedule for Japan’s Basic Plan on Space Policy. This agreement marks Japan’s first concrete action for the development and creation of the space resource industry, with a focus on lunar resources. 65 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DECEMBER 2017