NASA announces agencies latest mission, Resource Prospector.

By Jonathan Stroud

JournalistsForSpace.com

The space agency has partnered with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to build the spacecraft. The mission currently has an early 2020’s launch window.

NASA is aiming to conduct the first mining expedition on another world. The agency has set the goal to prove important materials, such as water, hydrogen and oxygen, can be successfully harvested from the moon.

In order to do this, scientists will expand on previous research from the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) missions that proved the existence of water on the moon.

According to NASA, “Launching one pound of any material into space costs thousands of dollars. One gallon of water weighs more than eight pounds, so the ability to generate water, air and fuel in space could represent enormous cost savings.” As a result, Resource Prospector could potentially make it cheaper for future generations to gather resources from other planets in deep-space.

Watch an animated NASA video on the spacecraft below:



*Video Credit NASA

Read more about NASA’s plans for the spacecraft and mission at: NASA’s Official Resource Protector Website.

Credit: NASA Credit: NASA Credit: NASA

*Featured photo credit: NASA

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