In December 2020, China brought the first lunar soil samples to Earth since 1976. The United States and Russia have accomplished the same feat before.
During the Apollo missions in the 60s, the US retrieved over 380 kilograms of samples from the moon. Now China has explored previously unexplored areas and found new finds. Among other things, rare earth metals such as lanthanum and platinum and six previously completely unknown minerals.
“Vulnerable environments”
Several states now see the moon and space as a possible source of natural resources. But there are also researchers who warn of risks with such exploitation.
– These are vulnerable environments that we will change permanently, says lunar scientist James Carpenter, at the European Space Agency, ESA.
See the whole The world of science – The back of the moon on SVT Play or 16/10 at 8 pm on SVT2.