Now they need a new project to look for cows on the moon. :)
“finds water found”
That was in the actual title...
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.
How much is “significant”?
They found lunar water ... again?
Though I suppose that it beats finding Martian water for the 900th time.
Must be budget time I think they are full of sh**.
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... :)
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