July 11, 2002
Within 15 years people could be mining the moonfor a safe and clean nuclear fuel that could phase out fossil-burningpower stations, the last man to step onto the lunar surface saidyesterday.
Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, who with Gene Cernan madethe final moon landing aboard Apollo 17 in December 1972, alsopredicted lunar tourists could eventually follow.
In Sydney yesterday the geologist and onlyscientist among the 12 Apollo moonwalkers predicted the next lunarexplorers would be funded by international investors rather thantaxpayers.
Their goal would be an isotope called helium-3,rare on Earth but found in abundance on the moon. It could be used todevelop a clean, safe and limitless fuel for nuclear fusion powerstations. Unlike atom-splitting fission technology, fusion - thesource of the sun's energy - generates power by squeezing atomstogether.
"If we are going to see a continued rise in thepopulation of the Earth to 10 or 12 billion people by 2050 and if wealso expect to see an improvement in people's standard of living,it's going to take a factor of eight increase in our energysupply."
Helium-3 could provide much of thatenergy.
"A business scenario can be put together thatcould have us back on the moon within 10 to 15 years," said DrSchmitt, putting the cost at about $A 20 billion.
He conceded the 1967 international Outer SpaceTreaty "does prohibit the claiming and the exercising of sovereigntyover any lunar territory.
However, it does permit the use of itsresources".
Lunar miners could be required to make theirquarry available to all nations "for the benefit of humankind", withpart of the profits being used to help all countries switch fromfossil to fusion fuel.
Dr Schmitt described Apollo 17's landing site, theTaurus-Littrow valley, as perfect for tourism.
"It's a valley deeper than the Grand Canyon. Themountains on either side rise 2100 metres above the valley floor andare brilliantly illuminated by a sun brighter than any Australiansun. The hardest thing to get used to is a brilliant sun in a blacksky.
"The steep mountains would inevitably attractthrill seekers. Someone, some day is going to try to ski them withsome teflon coated skis."
Unlike other moonwalkers - all test pilots - hehad not been affected by seeing the Earth hanging in the lunar sky.He was more interested in moon rocks.
While on the moon, Cernan told him to take time toadmire the Earth. "I said to Gene, 'Look, when you have seen oneEarth, you have seen them all'."
Yesterday Dr Schmitt addressed the AustralianInstitute of Physics biennial congress. This weekend he will attendthe 2002 Australian Mars Exploration Conference, also inSydney.