Exactly! The cost is too high, BUT if we could figure out an efficient mining system on the moon, then they would more than make their money back as there are billions or trillions of dollars worth of resources there, but we are definitely a ways away from figuring that one out.
There is one thing that would justify going back to the moon for mining, and that's helium3. Helium3 is extremely rare on earth but is in abundance on the moon. The only problem is. Its fuel for a fusion reactor and we are yet to figure out how to get a fusion reactor to work in the first place.
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