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Yep you guessed it, annother post by that one guy that doesn't really know what he's talking about but tries anyway!

Moon Harvesting!

An interesting article came up in the news paper the other day and I found it worrying... amongst other things.
Here is the link to the article for your reading pleasure. Now down to conversation!

A summary of the article is that it basically states how Helium-3, which is used in nuclear fusion research, could be almost pleantiful on the moon. Indeed it is the Regalith, or topsoil -so to speak- of the moon's surface that could hold the key to what some are calling a 'miracle power source of the future'. This Helium-3, or H-3 as I believe it is called, could be the final stepping stone in finding a clean fuel. The only problem is there isn't a great deal of it on Earth but there is on the Moon.



Now I think we can all see the plus side here. Obviously if there is a chance to have a clean and pleantiful fuel then it is worth a hell of a lot to acheive. Just think of the possibilities. Much less polution, possibly cheaper fuel prices, hell perhaps we'd even start helping third world countries if we weren't so stuck up our own arses about our own needs. But really... the Moon? We all thought to ourselves that one day the Earth will be so screwed up by us that we'd jump to annother planet and destroy that one too, but did you ever think it'd be quite as soon as within the next decade or two? The US aims to have a Moon base functional by the year 2021 so whats to stop them from shipping back raw materials in each shuttle run? Of course I don't see anything too extreme coming from this. Nothing like that mining vessel from Star Treck but still, it's still something we need to be weary about.

I'm still on the fence about it though. I can see the advantages for it, definatey, but I think it's something that has to be regulated strictly and perfectly controlled before it gets out of hand.

So what are your views on the matter? =D

Nicely put. Indeed we have already had a taste of what is to come I fear.

So long as if they start mining they atleast plan it out... I don't mind. Something like this!


Or even the batman signia xD

I think we're just going to blow up the moon, or something. We're sure going to destroy it, at least.

But we shouldn't be taking these actions so soon, it seems. If we can get the Earth going well on its own without the moon, then we probably won't need to take that path.

As for warring over the resources, I think that indeed will become a big issue amongst those who know of it. (Of course, most people in third-world countries won't know of this), but paying less for energy means we can use money and Earth resources for better purposes, such as helping those countries.

I'm not so sure...
After the incredible breakthrough's this last half century alone has given us we've had the resources to eradicate world poverty for quite some time. Do you not think that an arguement for GM crops would have been "But just think Jim, we grow more food faster and we can feed those with less than us!" And yet all we got were larger tomatoes in our big mac's.

I'd say we, as humans, have had ample oportunities to help the poor but we haven't. Just the stagering figure of how much food both the USA and Britian waste each year is testement to that. I don't see how having a cheap, easy to obtain fuel is going to help. All I can see coming from this is brighter advertisement lights in New York, Electric cars, faster internet and other such privilages.

So my opinion would be that we'd deface the moon for our own wants, not needs. we'd take what we claim to be ours in a selfish and probably aggressive manner and the people that need it most would never feel the benifits, they'd just see the moon change over time.

Hmm... I'm not sure about much of the whole 'taking out mass throws off CG' thing, but I know the Earth and moon act as a system. Were we to take some stuff out of the moon, the only change that could happen between the two is that the moon might move a bit further from the Earth, and vice versa in respect to mass.

Though, I don't think we would be able to make so much of a difference that it throws off the moon's orbit. It won't affect the Earth's, I'm pretty sure.