Lunar Minerals and Their Resource Utilization with Particular Reference to Solar Power Satellites and Potential Roles for Humic Substances for Lunar Agriculture

Plans for manned bases on the Moon have been conducted by engineers and scientists for many years after the Apollo missions. Reports on lunar bases and space activities of the 21st century have been published in NASA Conference Publication 3166 (Mendell 1992). Taking human-kind to another world to stay is after all a major philosophical question. So, we should ask the rhetorical question: “What is required for humans to survive on the Moon”? The “basic needs” to be met in comparison with earth, include food, shelter, and an energy source. Water and air are so abundant that often they are overlooked. On the moon humans will need to have oxygen and water supplied in addition to food, shelter and energy to survive. Since some of these topics are explained in other chapters, after looking at the usefulness and global distribution of minerals, we will introduce utilization of plagioclase, the most abundant minerals of the highland. This topic is also related to our science themes of why we want to be on the moon. The formation of plagioclase highland crust from the lunar magma ocean is the most important questions to be answered. For such lunar exploration, we will not establish multi purpose permanent bases. Instead, we are assuming a small base for construction of a solar power station to solve energy crises on Earth, and small agricultural dome to glow green vegetables.