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G. L. Kulcinski, Harrison H. (Jack) Schmitt
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 21 | Number 4 | July 1992 | Pages 2221-2229
Technical Paper | Special Issue on D-He Fusion / D-3He/Fusion Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A29717
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The moon contains an enormous energy source in 3He deposited by the solar wind. Fusion of only 100 kg of 3He with deuterium in thermonuclear fusion power plants can produce > 1000 MW(electric) of electrical energy, and the lunar resource base is estimated at 1 × 109 kg of 3He. This fuel can supply > 1000 yr of terrestrial electrical energy demand. The methods for extracting this fuel and the other solar wind volatiles are described. Alternate uses of D-3He fusion in direct thrust rockets will enable more ambitious deep-space missions to be conducted. The capability of extracting hydrogen, water, nitrogen, and other carbon-containing molecules will open up the moon to a much greater level of human settlement than previously thought.