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Colonel Flagg · #26

I'd propose that the general existence of water on the moon is not - forgive the expression - earth shattering. In my worldview, it is more significant that water is turning up everywhere we care to look, if we look hard enough. The fact that it exists on the Moon and on Mars indicates that we might also expect to find it in the asteroid belt. It is in fact most likely that we will discover it is ubiquitous within the solar system.

Furthermore, the presence of water in quantity makes it a commodity that a proposed "permanant manned base" would not have to necessarily bring with them from Earth. As lunar regolith is relatively rich in light metals like iron, titanium and manganese, one might envision a mining/smelting operation being a commercial impetus, with the extraction of water from the regolith being an ancillary benefit. Not to mention that water + sunlight can generate elemental hydrogen and oxygen - i.e. rocket fuel.

And as for exploration of the solar system and space in general - well, that's what humans do. Search out the unknown and make it known. We've been doing this for thousands of years, in the periods of time that we're not blowing ourselves to smithereens, that is.

kahljorn · #27

yea, that's what is kind of interesting about this article though is that it does shatter the worldviews that water has to come from somewhere else (like comets or something) and instead speculates that it might be the result of the sun which would mean that it could be everywhere. At least, wherever there are hydrogen rich stuff and no atmosphere...

I'd also add that any step to make it easier to get supplies into space will end up saving us money

Fathom Zero · #28

Maybe the Moon could have an atmosphere, then, if only the water could evaporate. It's probably not warm enough for long enough to create such a thing, though.

Evil Robot · #29

China has some goal set up to be mining Hydrogen 3 atoms from the moon in the future, they say they can use it for nuclear fuel.

Colonel Flagg · #30

I think you mean Helium-3, oh Evil one.

EDIT: My apologies. I'm being glib, and not giving you proper credit. Of course, the primary reason for going back to the moon is the presence of Helium-3 in the regolith. I forgot, and you, sir, called me on it. Thanks for setting me straight.

executioneer · #31

maybe he means tritium

Colonel Flagg · #32

http://www.popularmechanics.com/scie...e/1283056.html

Tritium is most likely present in small quantities, but as it's radioactive it doesn't hang around (half-life of 12+ years). Helium-3 is present in the solar wind, and can be used as a nuclear fuel, but the solar wind is deflected by the magnetic field of the earth .... but not from the moon. Hence it accumulates in the regolith. Helium-3 is also the decay product of Tritium.

Plus, it's most commonly referred to as Tritium and not as Hydrogen-3.

kgp4death · #33

so i guess they smashed a object into the moon to examine the dust cloud it generated today. Water as well as other materials are important for fuel purposes you have to remember 99% of the fuel they use is just to get out of the atmosphere if they could refuel on the moon they could do all kinds of crap in space. (water + electricity = hydrogen + oxygen = fuel) as well as of course water is main ingredient of known life forms. It will be interesting to see what they detect.
heres the video
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33215937

Fathom Zero · #34

Carbon-based life forms.

There could potentially be beings out there based on different elements. I know it's a dumbass example, but the movie Evolution was based around this premise. Though, that didn't explain why the aliens looked kinda familiar.

Tadao · #35

HEY GUYS! I got a great idea. We'll bring some moon water back to earth to study! No no no, don't worry. I'm sure we are all immune to whatever we find, plus we have really really small filters. Plus what ever might be in the water probably came from the earth, so like we should be cool. Don't worry so much guys.

I know we aren't bringing any home, but you know that's the next step.

Colonel Flagg · #36

Yes, Tad, I know there are dangers, and that there are all sorts of complications in returning samples to Earth, but in reality, we've already done that with the return of moon rocks during the Apollo program. Plus, it would be really cool to analyze Moon Water (tm).

Colonel Flagg · #37

I'm sure we won't bring back any dangerous microbes. :andromeda

Tadao · #38

That would be true if we had ever landed there.

kgp4death · #39

yeah the mars rock they found in Antarctica had some microbes and crap fossilized on there. Last time i checked that was still what they think. They say that a similar rock may of started life on earth.

Colonel Flagg · #40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tadao

That would be true if we had ever landed there.

kahljorn · #41

yea you guys and your staunch belief in something as ridiculous as a MOON LANDING in such primitive times could really fuck us up in the long run.

didn't they find some crap living really deep underwater next to volcanic vents that might've been sulfur based rather than carbon based?
:O

stevetothepast · #42

we could just bring some bottled water up there.

Fathom Zero · #43

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahljorn

yea you guys and your staunch belief in something as ridiculous as a MOON LANDING in such primitive times could really fuck us up in the long run.

didn't they find some crap living really deep underwater next to volcanic vents that might've been sulfur based rather than carbon based?
:O

They "eat" sulfur. But I dunno if they're made of it. I don't think that'd work.

kgp4death · #44

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevetothepast

we could just bring some bottled water up there.

yeah that's like a 10,000 dollar bottle of water. It takes a lot of fuel to get things in space. I think they actually drink filtered piss. Obviously you need some actual water but I think like 50% of what they drink is straight up filtered piss.