USM Professor Develops Plan to Protect Earth鈥檚 Moon
Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:15am | By: Van Arnold
Imagine a world where the famed 鈥渕an in the moon鈥� would no longer be visible from
Earth. Dr. Daniel Capper, Professor of Religion at The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi
(USM), has been working on an elaborate plan to help ensure that such an erasure never
happens.
Capper鈥檚 lunar land use plan was presented to the Committee on Space Research鈥檚 (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly in February 2021. His continued work has led to publication of a paper titled, 鈥淲hat Should We Do with Our Moon? Ethics and Policy for Establishing International Multiuse Lunar Land Reserves鈥� in the interdisciplinary journal Space Policy.
Capper points out that his plan took shape as the result of several initiatives like NASA鈥檚 Project Artemis and the European Space Agency鈥檚 Moon Village that involve returning humans to the moon 鈥� this time to stay long-term. Part of these initiatives include mining the moon for various resources such as precious metals, or the energy source called helium-3.
鈥淲hile such efforts are understandable, they also pose dangers to the moon鈥檚 environment, and these dangers impact humans on Earth,鈥� said Capper. 鈥淔or instance, large-scale mining in the region of the so-called 鈥榤an in the moon鈥� could erase this feature that human cultures have treasured for centuries, and this erasure would be visible to people on Earth.鈥�
Because no atmospheric weather occurs on the moon, historic locations on the lunar surface such as the Apollo 11 landing site and astronaut Neil Armstrong鈥檚 first footprints in July 1969 surface remain virtually intact. Any mining efforts conducted haphazardly in that area could wipe out a chapter of mankind鈥檚 history.
鈥淔or the sake of the moon鈥檚 features, some of which are magnificent, as well as for human cultural and historical preservation, we need a lunar land use plan, which I have provided,鈥� said Capper. 鈥淢y plan utilizes advanced methods in environmental ethics to create internationally protected places on the moon where mining cannot occur, such as within the region of the 鈥榤an in the moon.鈥� My plan does not prohibit mining outright but instead provides thoughtful ecological zones in which, depending on the location, mining may be allowed or prohibited.鈥�
In his report, Capper notes that our moon lacks plate tectonics, meaning that the
lunar surface cannot heal itself from the changes wrought by mining. Intentional remediation
of the lunar surface in the wake of mining will be needed to provide restoration.
This fact can militate against the economic efficiency of moon mining. Unfortunately,
lunar surface remediation also can be neglected, leaving mining scars in the lunar
landscape perhaps for billions of years.
Capper had been working on his plan for more than a year before presenting it to COSPAR. He stresses that much work remains to be done, with the ultimate goal of adoption by the United Nations.
鈥淎t this point this work involves less plan development and more interpersonal and intergovernmental persuasion,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith support from groups like the JustSpace Alliance and For All Moonkind, this effort can be successful.鈥�
Capper explains that he did not always harbor a deep desire to protect the moon. Upon learning that initiatives were being proposed to mine the moon, he began asking himself what that could mean? He educated himself about the moon鈥檚 surface and features. His love and appreciation for Earth鈥檚 constantly companion grew ostensibly.
鈥淚 was blown away by how many ecologically special places there are on our moon,鈥� said Capper. 鈥淪ome of us think of it as just a lifeless rock, when actually several places on our moon could make our jaws drop with amazement. And, since folks like Elon Musk are trying to create moon tourism, humans 100 years from now could stand in these places and be amazed. With threats against these wonderful sites arising now, we need to start protecting them immediately.鈥�
To see Capper鈥檚 full report, visit: