What happens when we only take from the Moon and don’t give back? Will we disturb the equilibrium that has kept our moon in orbit around the planet that we inhabit? If so, what could be the consequences? To avoid this, I propose to somewhat restore the balance by returning a small amount of aluminum, one of the most common metals in both the Earth’s and the Moon’s surface, back to the Moon. With lunar mining rapidly becoming a thing of the near future instead of the distant future, we ought to think about what might be potential outcomes. We only have to look at our past to see how quickly the human species becomes expert at something that’s profitable. At the beginning of the industrial age, people weren’t worried about the relatively small amounts of pollutants they pumped in the air. The open air was seen as something limitless. 200 years later we are dealing with the consequences. Could lunar mining have a similar fate?
Full Record Details

Launch date:
Launch mission:
Launch provider:
Launch location:
Launching state:
Launch vehicle COSPAR id:
19 Feb 2022
Antares 230+ / NG-17 Cygnus resupply mission
Northrop Grumman
Wallops Island, VA, USA
USA
2022-015A
Destination:
Host:
Host COSPAR id:
LEO, International Space Station (ISS)
International Space Station
1998-067A
Return date:
Return vehicle:
Landing Location:
Return vehicle COSPAR id:
Current status:
11 January 2023
Dragon CRS-26
Gulf of Mexico
2022-159A
Returned
Project partners:
Title:
Artist:
Date:
Medium:
Dimensions:
Genre:
IAAA art style:
Collection:
COSPAR id:
Restoring the Geophysical Dynamics of the Earth < > Moon Relationship
Jorick de Quaasteniet
2022
plexiglass, aluminum
1 x 1 x 1 cm
Sculpture
Moon Gallery
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