Japan's SLIM probe lost a thruster and landed upside-down on the moon, but it still woke up and started sending pictures to Earth.

nations flock to the cratered south pole and far side of the moon, where critical resources such as water could be mined.

Is capitalism so prevalent, we’re running out of ocean already?

  • Rayston@kbin.social
    281·
    9 months ago

    It’s not to bring back to earth, it’s to use in space, water is heavy and it’s crazy expensive to put water into space.

    • NaibofTabr@infosec.pubEnglish
      8·
      9 months ago

      Water is:

      • a source of oxygen for breathing
      • a source of hydrogen for rocket fuel
      • a source of hydrogen for fuel cells for power generation
      • for drinking (obviously)
      • for sanitation
      • for growing food
      • fantastic radiation shielding (important when you don’t have an atmosphere to absorb solar radiation) - embed water tanks in your habitat walls or just mount them on the outside - nice layer of cancer prevention

      So yeah, there’s too many uses for water in space and it’s really difficult to lift into orbit from Earth. Even if some future moon base starts producing an excess of water, it’ll be used to resupply other space habitats or vehicles.