Mining the Moon, Mars, and Asteroids - Solar Power Systems - Lunar Resources

Aug 25, 2026

A discussion of using space resources focuses on extracting and manufacturing materials on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids to enable practical production of useful goods. The report emphasizes cosmochemistry inputs from lunar samples and meteorites and outlines economic and legal considerations for extraterrestrial resource use. A major theme is lunar-based solar power: beaming energy to Earth via microwave transmitters, using large-area low-efficiency solar cells, and addressing cost by sourcing materials locally.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Space Resources Roundtable II

Lunar resources and applied cosmochemistry

Solar power in space and energy beaming

Robotic production of solar cells on the Moon

Lunar alchemy: dirt into products

PSRD Hot Idea: Mining the Moon, Mars, Asteriods [http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Nov00/mining.htm](http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Nov00/mining.html)[l](http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Nov00/mining.html) posted November 21, 2000 Mining the Moon, Mars, and Asteroids Written by G. Jeffrey Taylor Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology An international group of scientists, mining and aerospace engineers, policy makers, and other specialists met in Golden, Colorado to discuss the use of space resources. Space Resources Roundtable II was held at the Colorado School of Mines, and was sponsored by the School of Mines, NASA, and the Lunar and Planetary Institute. Participants discussed lunar, martian, and asteroidal resources, along with economic and legal aspects of using extraterrestrial resources. This report focuses on lunar resources. Manufacture of useful materials on the Moon, Mars, or asteroids requires extensive use of what we know about those places through studies of lunar samples and meteorites from asteroids and Mars. It is applied cosmochemistry. References: Space Resources Roundtable II, 2000, LPI Contribution 1070. Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, 75 pp. Abstracts also available at Space Resources Roundtable. Lunar Solar Power Energy specialists point out that we need alternatives to fossil fuels. They give several reasons. There are environmental problems with burning carbon. The traditional fuels will eventually run out. Perhaps most important, increasing the standard of living in developing nations requires a huge increase in the supply of energy. Solar power has often been touted as an answer to the world's energy problems. However, it is not very efficient. A given place on Earth is dark half the time. Clouds and dust reduces the amount of solar energy by another 50% . And except near the equator, the low angle of sunlight causes loss to the air, cutting the amount of energy by yet another 50% . All those reductions amount to eight times less solar energy reaching Earth's surface than arrives from the Sun. The obvious thing to do is to tap the Sun's energy in space. The idea of space power systems has been around since the late 1960s. New technology makes it more attractive than it was at first. Its biggest problem is the cost of launching lots of stuff from the ground to orbit. But suppose almost all the needed materials were already there? David Criswell (University of Houston) has been arguing for years that the materials are already there--on the Moon. It just takes some manufacturing facilities to produce the needed parts and pieces. PSRD Hot Idea: Mining the Moon, Mars, Asteriods [http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Nov00/mining.htm](http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Nov00/mining.html)[l](http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Nov00/mining.html) Solar power could be generated in space and beamed to the ground. The amount of material needed to construct a power satellite is large, hence expensive to transport from the surface of the Earth. It may be more cost-effective to bring the ingredients from the lunar surface--or even use the Moon to collect the solar power. Criswell believes that solar power stations should be located on the Moon. He proposes building them on the right and left sides of the Earth-facing side of the Moon. This ensures a continuous supply of power to the earth. Solar cells would collect sunlight and transmit the energy to microwave transmitters. The microwave antennas would beam the energy to Earth, where it would be received by other antennas on the ground. Criswell says that the solar cells on the Moon would not need to be highly efficient. Instead, they could cover a lot of real estate. The trick is to make the solar cells and antennas on the Moon. Alex Ignatiev, Criswell's colleague at the University of Houston, proposed a solution. An expert in materials science, Ignatiev presented the basic design for a robotic solar-cell maker. It would roll over the lunar surface, le

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the Space Resources Roundtable II report?

It examines the use of lunar, martian, and asteroidal resources, with special focus on lunar resources and the economic and legal issues of using materials beyond Earth.

Why is solar power in space considered more effective than on Earth?

Earth-based solar output is reduced by night cycles, clouds and dust, and low sunlight angles; in contrast, space enables more direct collection. The concept also supports continuous power by placing systems on the Moon.

How does the proposed lunar solar power system deliver energy to Earth?

Solar cells on the Moon would collect sunlight and send energy to microwave transmitters, which would beam the power to receiving antennas on the ground.

Aug 25, 2026

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