China has claimed the discovery of a new lunar mineral, Changesite-(Y), found in basalt samples returned by its Chang'e-5 probe, according to a press conference covered by state news site Xinhua. It marks the first time China has claimed the discovery of a new mineral on the Moon. The country also announced that its space agency has approved three more uncrewed Moon missions over the next decade.
Changesite-(Y) is a phosphate mineral characterized by a columnar shape, colorless appearance, and semi-transparent opacity. Bloomberg reports that the mineral is said to contain helium-3, an isotope that some believe could be an energy source in the future. The exact properties of the mineral remain unclear.
A First for China, Not for Space Exploration
While the discovery is a first for China, the United States and Russia have previously discovered new minerals from lunar samples. China's finding adds another development to the ongoing three-way space race.
As countries and private entities prepare to launch numerous crewed and uncrewed lunar missions over the next decade, the question of Moon mining is becoming more prominent. No country currently lays claim to the Moon under the nearly 60-year-old Outer Space Treaty, which was drafted and put into effect in 1967. Space policy experts have for years called for an update to the accords.
Much remains unknown about Changesite-(Y), but if it is indeed a potential next-generation energy source, it could further intensify debates over lunar mining rights.
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