Race to moon for rich pickings

HAVE you wondered why Nasa is in such a rush to return to the moon for the first time in 50 years?

It is now even predicting that scientists will be living there by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has announced plans of its own to build a research station at the moon’s south pole.

Officially, Nasa’s Artemis mission is a stepping stone towards reaching Mars. That may be true, but there’s also a much bigger prize at stake, because the moon is said to be abundant in rare-earth metals.

There is a world shortage of these highly valuable elements, which are used to make components for everything from batteries for electric cars to mobile phones, military equipment and fluorescent lights.

Two things have changed since 1972. Firstly, the cost of space travel has fallen dramatically. And secondly, the value of rare-earth metals has risen to astronomical levels.

This might explain why America and China are now going head to head in a new space race.

So forget fairy tales about the moon being made of cheese. It actually consists of trillions of pounds’ worth of precious elements.