Posted 06.14.2010 at 5:29 pm
8 Comments
The Moon May Be Wetter Than We Know
A new study suggests the minimum water content of the moon should be 100 times higher than previous research shows.
It’s been a great day for interplanetary H2O. First we hear that Mars was once covered in a massive, deep ocean. Now scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory are reporting that the moon may harbor 100 times more water than previously thought.
Taking a fresh look at rocks collected from the lunar surface during the Apollo missions, the researchers found that the minimum water content on the moon after its formation likely ranged between 64 parts per billion to 5 parts per million, at least two orders of magnitude higher than originally thought. It also suggests that the water is native to the moon, having been part of the original magma that formed the moon after its mass was, supposedly, sheared from earth in a violent collision.
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Science, Clay Dillow, apatite, astronomy, geology, lunar water, magma, moon, moon water, the moon, waterAfter identifying and analyzing the apatite, the team found that the numbers from their analysis matched the numbers in their earlier, theoretical calculations almost perfectly, suggesting the models are correct. That means the moon is a lot wetter than we previously thought it was, though it’s still obviously not as wet as the Earth or even Mars. But the findings could change the way scientists think about the formation of the moon, about lunar magma, and, eventually, about the technological feasibility of life forms living on the lunar surface.
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time to build a launch site on the moon and start mining water for fuel. They can refuel vehicles launched from earth to go to infinity and beyond.
water for fuel.... ? steam? but to do steam you need coal or wood or something... do we have any vehicles that can run off pure water and that is it? i don't think so........
I believe that phildo was referring to using the oxygen and hydrogen content of water to make fuel. The water could be cracked using solar energy, for example.
Shikata ga nai
Hmmm....so the Moon has Helium-3, large amounts of water, large amount of titanium dioxide, it also has Uranium. I would have to say that the benefits of having a moon base and using it as a space port of some kind would be very beneficial.
Helium-3 can be used for any future fusion reactors(whenever that may be) Untill then the moon does have Uranium in which we can use for power generation. We can harvest water and use that for drinking and use any Solar and nuclear power to produce LOX and LHYD for rocket fuels for more distant space missions. Titanium Dioxide? We all know how important Titanium is to the aerospace industry...oh! and the moon also has alot of aluminum. So, why arent we building there yet?
"What are the possibilities of trade with this place? Could there be coal, for example?"
[Come on; you know it]
@ Comatus
Really man, Coal, tell me you were being sarcastic and I just missed it.
I heard something about the trip to Mars or an asteroid being planned for 2025 so we may be going to the moon within the decade. Isn't that idea a blast from the past!
WE NEED TO CREATE MOON BASES!!! THE RESOURCES ARE THERE SO WE SHOULD JUST DO IT ALREADY!!!