Science Vs Artemis: Why Are We Really Going Back to the Moon?
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Apr 9, 2026 
Angel Abud-Madrid, engineer and director of the Center for Space Resources, explains lunar resource prospects and in-situ resource use. He discusses whether rare earths or helium-3 make mining worthwhile. He also explores the Moon as a training ground for Mars, and the science of far-side radio telescopes probing the universe’s early history.
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Childhood Memory That Questions Lunar Priorities
- Angel Abud-Madrid remembers watching Apollo as an eight-year-old in Chihuahua when his family gathered and debated the value of the moon landing.
- His grandmother questioned spending on the moon when Earth had problems, a line that stuck with him and frames skepticism about lunar priorities.
Moon Rare Earths Are Low Concentration Targets
- Rare earth elements exist on the Moon but are diluted within lunar regolith rather than concentrated nuggets, making extraction technically difficult.
- Ángel Abud-Madrid compares mining rare earths on the Moon to collecting droplets in Death Valley versus rainwater in Seattle, showing low practical yield.
Delay Moon Mining and Improve Earth Recycling
- Avoid prioritizing lunar mining for rare earths now; focus on safer Earth-based mining improvements and recycling instead.
- Ángel Abud-Madrid recommends improving terrestrial extraction and phone recycling before undertaking costly lunar operations.