The world is approaching an energy crisis, and it is critical to focus on an alternate long term energy source. Given the current urge to explore space and expand humanity's outreach, harvesting the energetically rich Helium-3 from the Moon's surface is an ideal, yet challenging, objective which is amply motivated by current energy economic realities. He-3 can be used in a nuclear fusion reactor to generate enormous energy outputs with negligible waste. In this project, we study the scientific breakthroughs required in space and fusion technologies to successfully harvest He-3 from the Moon. Additionally, a multitude of interests expressed on a global scale in lunar He-3 are examined and assessed based on a legal space framework, and socio-economic political scenarios are developed that would result from the aforementioned space venture.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• D'Souza, Marsha Rebecca
• Singh, Deep Arjun
• Otalvaro-Gutierrez, Diana M

Subject

• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Infrastructure
• Environment
• Energy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-031306-122626

Keyword

• Energy conservation
• Sustainability
• Renewable energy sources

Advisor

• Wilkes, John M.
• Kazantzis, Nikolaos K.

Year

• 2006

Date created

• 2006-03-13

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright