Question : Chandrayaan-II Mission

(a) whether the Indian Space Research Organisation, through Chandrayaan-II Mission, will deploy a rover on the lunar surface of the moon to mine and extract Helium-3 deposits;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the amount of funds earmarked for the Mission;
(c) whether the Government recognises the potential of using Helium-3 fuel mined from the Moon in the nuclear fusion reactor for the purpose of power generation; and
(d) if so, the details regarding the technological feasibility of the Helium-3 fusion?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

(a) & (b) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to deploy a rover on the lunar surface through Chandrayaan-2 mission. The instruments on Rover will conduct in-situ analysis of elements such as Na, Mg, Al, Si, etc; in the vicinity of landing site. Mining and extracting Helium-3 deposits is not planned. Total approved cost of the Chandrayaan-2 Mission is Rs.603.00 crores.

(b) This is outside the scope of current Moon mission.

(d) Not Applicable.

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