NASA finds water found on the moon

AFP ^ | 11-13-09 | AFP

[oldleft]

WASHINGTON — A "significant amount" of frozen water has been found on the moon, the US space agency NASA said Friday, boosting hopes of eventually setting up a permanent lunar base. Preliminary data from a moon probe "indicates the mission successfully uncovered water in a permanently shadowed lunar crater," NASA said. "The discovery opens a new chapter in our understanding of the moon," it added in a statement.

[The Duke]

Now they need a new project to look for cows on the moon. :)

[frankenMonkey]

If I recall, the cow jumped over the moon...

[Charles Henrickson]

A "significant amount" of frozen water has been found on the moon. . . .

"Frozen water": Usually called "ice."

Looks promising for hockey on the moon. Now if we can only figure out how to land a Zamboni there. . . .

[DannyTN]

And I’m missing silverware!

[GulfBreeze]

Now if we can only figure out how to land a Zamboni there. . . .

I know they usually do 5-15 miles per hour, but have they ever been tested under these impact conditions. "One rocket slammed into the Cabeus crater, near the moon's southern pole, at around 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers) per hour."

[kidd]

[Thrownatbirth]

Looks promising for hockey on the moon.

No day games, though.

[Larry Lucido]

“finds water found”

That was in the actual title...

[catman67]

How do you find something that is already found?

Another useless endeavor by the MSM

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The most cost effective approach to Lunar exploration that is cumulative, builds on itself over time, is to begin by sending a nuclear powered tunneling robot.

Not a terribly high tech device, and rather slow and methodical, even if it just dug an inch of tunnel a day, in a year the tunnel would be over 30 feet long. At intervals, just like in an Earth hard rock tunnel, it would drill thin holes and insert reinforcing rod to stabilize the ceiling. Likewise, it would spray sealant on the bare rock against micro-fissures.

Because it is on a one way mission, its lander could be cannibalized for pressure doors, flooring, ceiling and walls. These could have modular conduits for wiring, so that the tunnel would have electrical heat and power adapters available.

The tunneling robot would probably mine a much more elaborate tunnel than a single shaft. Branching shafts, both horizontal and vertical, could have extra space for things like a water cistern, so that harvested and purified ice could be kept liquid in quantity; a greenhouse, of sorts, to produce supplemental food and purify the air somewhat, maybe even producing ethanol for fuel; and additional storage for breathing air tanks.

Finally there would be a niche for the reactor, so it could power the habitat when the astronauts arrived.

Having robots do the work prior to arrival of humans would save an enormous amount of time and money, and the humans could bring far more supplies and equipment with them, extending their mission and allowing them to conduct much more detail operations at much lower risk.

[Larry Lucido]

It was pre-found.

[Charles Henrickson]

The tunneling robot would probably mine a much more elaborate tunnel than a single shaft. Branching shafts, both horizontal and vertical, could have extra space for things like a water cistern, so that harvested and purified ice could be kept liquid in quantity. . . .

Purity Of Essence.

Finally there would be a niche for the reactor, so it could power the habitat when the astronauts arrived. Having robots do the work prior to arrival of humans would save an enormous amount of time and money, and the humans could bring far more supplies and equipment with them, extending their mission and allowing them to conduct much more detail operations at much lower risk.

"I would guess that, ah, dwelling space for several hundred thousands of our people could easily be provided. A computer could be set and programmed to accept factors from youth, health, sexual fertility, intelligence, and a cross section of necessary skills. Naturally, they would breed prodigiously, eh? There would be much time and little to do. The prevailing emotion will be one of nostalgia for those left behind, combined with a spirit of bold curiosity for the adventure ahead!"

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

You know, of course, that both the US, the Soviet Union, and China did go ahead and build enormous underground cities?

One of the ones in the US is for Washington pols and bureaucrats and their families. It included all sorts of amenities, including shopping malls, fast food restaurants, churches, schools, etc., all maintained by a skeleton maintenance crew.

http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/list-of-underground-bases-in-the-us/

The underground cities in the USSR tended to be ball shaped, and were rather spare and military oriented. Mao built a huge underground city beneath Beijing, which has mostly been converted to active retail and residential over the years, which keeps the real estate prices low, unlike in Shanghai and Hong Kong, were they can get nonsensically expensive.

[BenLurkin]

How much is “significant”?

[eclecticEel]

They found lunar water ... again?

Though I suppose that it beats finding Martian water for the 900th time.

[mikrofon]

WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND
cannot be unfound

[boomop1]

Must be budget time I think they are full of sh**.

[MikeD]

This one’s the real deal — I’ve been skeptical of previous claims, but now they’ve got it.

Of course, I do have a small bias... :)

[SunkenCiv]

Strange Brew at LCROSS’s Crash Site
Sky and Telescope | November 3, 2009 | Kelly Beatty
Posted on 11/08/2009 8:25:37 PM PST by MikeD
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2381925/posts