Cold as (lunar) ice: Protecting the moon's polar regions from contamination

[Admin]

Can humanity mine water ice at the moon's poles without compromising these regions' great scientific potential?

Cold as (lunar) ice: Protecting the moon's polar regions from contamination : Read more

 

[Dr Bugsy]

Artemis should choose the best qualified people. I do not care for qualification criteria based on gender, color, religion, political affiliation, etc.

 

[egribble]

We can sit on earth and not expand out into space. That way we protect the science on lifeless worlds. Probably billions of worlds just like the moon throughout the Universe, but let's just sit at home till we become extinct. Alternatively we can ensure the long term survival of life by expanding outward and utilizing the resources of space. This planetary protection stuff is stupidity.

 

[FB36]

IMHO there is no need to try to mine ice on the moon! (& it would be incredibly hard to do anyway!)

There is already space tech NASA uses that recycles water!

How about recycling air?
NASA is already trying to test a tech that can turn CO2 in air back to O2:
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/instruments/moxie/
(Carbon dust/powder (after recycling CO2) just can be stored as trash or dumped outside!)

(So a moon base would really only require food for people (when right tech is used); NOT ice/water!)

 

[Gustavo Porto de Mello]

We can sit on earth and not expand out into space. That way we protect the science on lifeless worlds. Probably billions of worlds just like the moon throughout the Universe, but let's just sit at home till we become extinct. Alternatively we can ensure the long term survival of life by expanding outward and utilizing the resources of space. This planetary protection stuff is stupidity.

You are quite right. Not moving out and expanding is sheer long term suicide of the race. But alas, this idea must be sold politically. So let us sharpen up our arguments! Some scientific protection is warranted, but the Moon is needed as a source of resources, advanced outpost, and space base for expanding throughout the Solar System. Some parts of it may be closed off for occupation as reservations or such. Rocket exhaust will have to be coped with, however - so sorry.