JAPAN is off to the Moon, not to advance the cause of science but for commercial profit. Two government agencies have proposed a project to launch a Moon orbiter followed by an remote surface vehicle which will search for mineral deposits. The programme is expected to be approved soon by the Space Activities Commission.
The project is a joint venture between the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) and the education ministry鈥檚 Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science. NASDA estimates the cost at $500 million.
First into space, around 2000, will be a 2-tonne survey satellite, launched aboard Japan鈥檚 H-2 rocket. This will orbit the Moon and scan the lunar surface in the visible, infrared, X-ray and gamma-ray wavebands. The orbiter will also carry a laser altimeter to gather topographical data, and radiation monitors.
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Next up will be the Moon rover, which will set down at a site selected on the basis of information gathered by the orbiter. It will conduct chemical analyses on the Moon in its search for minerals. This could be the first step in what many scientists think will be an exploration of space for commercial gain, although the Japanese project will also investigate the possibility of setting up a lunar observatory.
According to widespread reports in the media, the Moon rover will look for helium-3, an isotope that would make an ideal fuel for future fusion reactors. While helium-3 is rare on Earth, it is thought to be abundant on the Moon. It can generate energy in fusion reactions more efficiently than deuterium and tritium, the current ingredients of fuel for fusion.
NASDA is playing down these reports. 鈥淎t present, we cannot itemise what kind of commercial resources we expect on the Moon,鈥� says the agency鈥檚 Hideo Hasegawa. 鈥淏ut we believe that any elements, minerals and energy to be produced on the Moon will be indispensable for expanding the sphere of human activities.鈥�