Ice on the moon a "game-changer"

[dar512]

"Sensors have detected 24 gallons of water from the 60-foot crater created by the LCROSS experiment."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB2000...196040232.html

[Shawnee123]

I knew it! Sweet. I swear I'm going to live in a moon dome some day.

[Cloud]

so now we have an excuse to spend billions of dollars to destroy and exploit the natural resources of another heavenly body

[Shawnee123]

What are they going to do to my body?

Oh, you meant the moon.

Well, it's just sittin' there doin' nuthin'...

[Shawnee123]

And get off my moon!

[xoxoxoBruce]

We might as well, after all, there's nothing that needs doing here on Earth.

I thought water would flash off, in a vacuum?

[Shawnee123]

There's plenty to do here, that's for sure, which is why I would like to live in a dome on the moon. Preferably, without many other humans. The idea appeals to my imagination and adventurous spirit.

:moonsmilenotthebuttmoon:

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

There's plenty to do here, that's for sure, which is why I would like to live in a dome on the moon. Preferably, without many other humans. The idea appeals to my imagination and adventurous spirit.

:moonsmilenotthebuttmoon:

It's quicker if we both just head to Antarctica. Get to packing!!

[Shawnee123]

True. Meet you at the bus station.

[Clodfobble]

Wait, it was only 24 gallons? I hadn't heard that; I thought it was way more. Shit, we could carry 24 milkjugs' worth up in a rocket and pour it out on the ground if that's all we needed. How is that a game-changer?

[dar512]

The article explains it, Clod. Pushing up weight from earth is expensive. The fact that anything useful is there at all is a good thing.

[Clodfobble]

It's only useful in that it indicates there might be more. Even with all the useful things we can do with water on the moon, 24 gallons alone ain't gonna cut it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

It's only useful if we're there. The question remains, what the fuck are we doing there? Whatever it is, it's got to be uber expensive/difficult/dangerous, so what's the payback, other than satisfying someone's curiosity?

And couldn't that money/effort be better used right here on Earth?

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

It's only useful in that it indicates there might be more. Even with all the useful things we can do with water on the moon, 24 gallons alone ain't gonna cut it.

24 gallons of water from the 60-foot crater

I think the idea is that if there is that much water in that much area, there will be X amount (lots more) to be used for future missions.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I thought water would flash off, in a vacuum?

Apparently it is frozen at a very cold temperature, which keeps it solid and stable.

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

I think the idea is that if there is that much water in that much area, there will be X amount (lots more) to be used for future missions.

That's the idea, but they had to look in the shjadows of a crater near the moon's south pole.... not exactly a typical part of the moon (but it does suggest that there is at least water about.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

It's only useful if we're there. The question remains, what the fuck are we doing there? Whatever it is, it's got to be uber expensive/difficult/dangerous, so what's the payback, other than satisfying someone's curiosity?

And couldn't that money/effort be better used right here on Earth?

Regretfully, I have to agree. Going to and living on the moon would be waaay cool, but the resources required could rehabilitate a much larger area of damaged farmland, restore a few rainforests, rejuvenate some run down urban areas, and have enough left over to have a kick-ass moon-theme party afterwards.