56. The Roo-ver: Lunar Mining Prospects for Australia and NASA

Have you ever thought that there could be mining facilities on the moon, instead of Earth? Well, the Roo-ver (a 1 year old Australian mining rover prototype) Has made dreams of lunar mining come to life, and come ever closer to reality!

Lunar mining rovers could give us lots of valuable resources, and get us closer to discovering how the

moon and Earth was formed.

Early last year, the Roo-ver prototype designed to collect valuable resources and metals from the moon was unveiled in Adelaide for the first time. The intention of the Roo-ver is that it will collect and deliver lunar rocks to a moon facility (made by Artemis missions) where resources from the rocks will be extracted to help astronauts breathe and create rocket fuel! Experts from NASA and the ASA said that they expect to send an updated, up and running version of the Roo-ver to the moon later this decade.

The reason why this rover is so important is that, once on the moon, it can create rocket fuel from the resources on the moon. This would make missions to mars much less expensive and easier, because it can stop off on the moon to get more fuel, rather than filling it up to the brim on the ground. With the help of Roo-ver, once there is a lunar base (which future Artemis missions are planning) our moon could be the space travel hub for going to mars, and maybe the moons of Jupiter in the future.

You may be wondering, why and. how is it called the Roo-ver? The Australian public chose the name, after a competition that saw more than 8,000 entries. The chosen name was entered by a inspiring young woman who said:

“Our lunar rover deserves to be named after something iconically Australian, reflecting the Aussie spirit as we launch into this new endeavour. A kangaroo is part of the Australian Coat of Arms and it's time for Australian science to take the next leap all the way up into space.”

As we look to the stars and imagine a future where the moon serves as a gateway to the cosmos, the Roo-ver stands as a symbol of this exciting new chapter in space exploration. As we await its deployment and the advancements that will follow, one thing is clear: the future of lunar mining is bright, and Australia’s contribution to this interstellar adventure will be remembered as a defining moment in our quest to explore the universe. Keep an eye on the skies—the Roo-ver is just the beginning of our lunar dreams taking flight.

Until next time, Give Me Space

Henry