NASA Finds Water on the Moon November 13, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Space Exploration.trackback
In early October, NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) watched as its launch vehicle crashed into its targeted location on the Moon. Since then, scientists have been working around the clock analyzing the cloud of dust generated by the impact.
Earlier today, NASA released their findings: there is solid confirmation that water does indeed exist on the Moon. The poles of the moon do not receive much sunlight and thus are very cold — not much above absolute zero. This forms a “cold trap”, that preserves volatile chemicals that might otherwise heat up and escape into space. So here we have an opportunity to learn more about what the Moon and Earth were like billions of years ago.
Beyond the scientific curiosity, water on the Moon means future astronauts may have a source of drinking water. In my favorite Robert Heinlein novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, future Lunar colonists revolt, primarily so they are no longer forced to ship their limited water resources back to Earth. The premise that water could be actually mined on the Moon now seems to be a possibility after all.
Comments»
No comments yet — be the first.