Chinese claim to have returned a mineral from the moon with Helium 3

[MaxQ]

Years ago a guy on the old rocketry forum instructed me on why Helium 3 was a boondoogle.
It was lengthy and detailed, but IIRC it went something like this:

We are several generations away from a fusion reactor that could even use it, and when we got to that generation reactor design, Helium 3 was a by product of the process.
Rendering hauling Helium 3 all the way from the moon a bit ridiculous.

MSN

 

[Hobie1dog]

"The country that controls the source of energy that keeps technological civilization running will control the Earth. If China becomes that country, considering its human rights record and imperial foreign policy, history will take a dark turn. "

It's hard to imagine that they are going to come up with a way of actual mining that much of that material to bring back to be of any real use. backhoes and dump trucks on the moon, I don't think so.

 

[rharshberger]

Yes, its known that there is H3 on the moon, so not surprising they brought some back as it is in greater abundance supposedly on the moon than what naturally occurs on Earth. But as you stated the only sources on Earth in large enough abundance to study is made during the making of plutonium and a nuclear reaction.

 

[MaxQ]

Maybe we should concentrate on producing Element 115 LOL.