Korean Media: The Moon is Money and Energy... The Rising "Lunanomics"
It has been remarked that Artemis is not merely a crewed lunar mission, but rather a project aimed at establishing sustainable lunar outposts and commercial infrastructure.
In reality, Artemis goes beyond a single lunar landing; its focus lies in building foundational systems for long-term human presence. The vision involves creating a comprehensive network on the lunar surface and in orbit for transporting goods, landing spacecraft, and resupplying missions—on this basis, fostering a business ecosystem open to private enterprises. The newly coined term "Lunanomics" refers to an economy centered on the Moon, which is poised to capture global attention.
The Moon's south and north poles harbor ice deposits, which can be electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen—key components for rocket fuel. It is also reported that lunar rocks contain rare earth elements. According to NASA, the Moon may hold over 1 million tons of helium-3, making it as coveted as gold during the gold rush era. Just one gram of helium-3 can generate energy equivalent to more than 20 tons of coal, and it is regarded as a potential next-generation fuel source for nuclear fusion power generation.
Combined with advancements in communications, observation, and space logistics infrastructure, the Moon is increasingly becoming a stage for tangible economic activities. Analysts suggest that the U.S. investment of $93 billion (approximately 141 trillion KRW) in continuing the Artemis program is essentially a strategic pre-investment in future space industries. According to PwC, a global consulting firm, by 2050, the annual economic scale based on the Moon could expand to $12.73 billion (approximately 193 trillion KRW).
Public opinion predicts that this launch will intensify the competition between the United States and China for dominance in space. China is accelerating its lunar exploration through the "Chang’e Project," with an ambition to achieve crewed lunar landings before 2030. It is forecasted that the U.S. and China will particularly compete over regions rich in ice and helium-3, such as the lunar south pole. Whoever secures these areas first will not only gain access to valuable resources but also establish leadership in the space industry. On the day of the Artemis II launch, President Donald Trump stated: "America is returning to the Moon—we now hold a decisive advantage in space," expressing confident optimism about their competitive edge.
Source: Chosun Ilbo
Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1861416047312908/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.