月球矿产资源勘查进展及展望

Recent advance and prospect of the lunar mineral resources exploration

地球是人类起源和成长的"摇篮",然而人类终将跳出"摇篮",拥抱更广阔的宇宙空间。月球是地球唯一的天然卫星,也是唯一一颗人类已经登陆的地外星球,月球矿产资源开发利用是人类走向太空的必经之路。前苏联Luna计划和美国Apollo计划引领的第一次探月高潮,采回了约382kg样品使人类得以近距离接触和全方位认识月球。当前正是全球探月工程的第二次高潮期,在本次探月高潮期,月球矿产资源的开发利用将成为重要目标。以往的月球资源探测以科学研究为主,而以应用和商业利益为目的的月球资源勘查工作尚未开展。因此,有必要对月球矿产资源进行系统梳理和研究,初步建立月球矿产勘查的规范,指导载人登月和人机互动进行月面资源勘查。本文从国际太空矿产领域的发展趋势、月球矿产资源的需求、潜在的矿产种类、勘查流程等方面进行系统综述,根据可勘查属性将月球各类矿产划分为钛铁矿型、斜长岩型、磷酸盐型、月壤型、水冰型等5种类型,为中国未来的载人探月项目着陆区选址和矿产勘查规范的建立提供初步参考依据。

The Earth is the cradle of the origin and growth of the human,yet humanity will eventually jump out of the cradle to embrace the outer space.The moon,the natural satellite of the Earth,is the only planets other than earth that humans have ever landed on.The exploration and utilization of the mineral resources of the moon is one of the most important steps for mankind to step into space.The first lunar exploration period,led by Luna and Apollo projects,collected~382 kg samples so that people could be close contact and comprehensive understanding of the moon.Now it is the second climax period of the global lunar exploration project.During this period of lunar exploration,the exploration and utilization of lunar resources will be a significant target.However,the exploration of lunar resources in the past was mainly based on scientific research,while for the purpose of application and commercial interests has not yet been carried out.Therefore,it is necessary to systematically comb and study lunar mineral resources,establish a standard for lunar mineral exploration initially,to guide manned mission to moon and lunar surface resources exploration through human-computer interaction.This paper systematically reviews the development trend of international space mineral resources,the demand for moon mineral resources,the potential mineral types,and the exploration process.According to the explorable properties of various minerals on the moon,we divided the resources into five types such as ilmenite,anorthosite,phosphate,lunar soil,and water ice.This paper also provides a preliminary reference basis for the site selection of the landing zone and the establishment of the specifications of mineral exploration for China’s future manned lunar exploration project.