Probably No Rare Earths from the Moon for Now

Some time ago, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine expressed that it would be possible to mine rare earth elements on the moon within this century. However, the century is long, and while many countries are increasingly striving to become independent of China in terms of their raw material supply, the Japanese probe Hakuto-R attempted to land on the moon last Tuesday. Its mission was to collect rare earth-containing rock samples, but then communication was lost.

Hakamada, CEO and founder of the space company ispace, had already heralded the beginning of the lunar economy. The landing of the “White Rabbit,” as the company’s spacecraft is called in English, was meant to initiate a new era. Hakamada had grand plans: rare earths and water were to be brought from the moon and utilized on Earth. According to the company’s website, the ultimate goal is to merge Earth and the Moon into a sustainable habitat. Hakamada’s dream is the “Moon Valley,” a lunar valley where up to 1000 people are expected to live and work by the year 2040. The probe is currently lost, and whether it will ever be found and potentially resume its work is uncertain.

For the USA and Japan, a successful moon landing would have been a milestone in the cooperation between the two countries. Rare earths from the moon could have provided the democratic world with another potential source of critical production materials not originating from China. Yet, despite the likely failed moon landing, the dependence on China will continue for quite some time. Since prices are likely to rise in the meantime, investing in rare earths is recommended. This offers extraordinary opportunities for top-notch returns, which are also tax-free.