Moon Water Update

"Therefore, the possible finding of indigenous “Moon water” in the polar areas makes detailed study and examination of the poles even more attractive."

But, but, I thought Barack and Buzz said there's no reason to go back there.... robots can't do it all.

Leaving space politics aside, I would suggest the truly interesting science aspect of this discovery is the possibility that there could be residual reservoirs of water within the Moon and even relatively close to the surface. If so, small to large episodes of outgassing driven by lunar activity, e.g. moon quakes and meteoritic impacts, could release water vapor. A global distribution of small outgassing events could be one model for surface water measurements, cold traps in the permanently shadowed craters could capture then larger concentrations. The search for sources of such outgassing would certainly justify an intensive orbital and surface robotic exploration program at modest cost, and the results might provide greater science justification for return of human presence to the Moon. But first you send the robots for the exploratory surveys because that is a thousand times cheaper than sending humans before they really know where to focus their attention.

But they had better do a good job first! In addition to unprecedented temperatures and temperature differentials there are always the electric craters!

Roll on LADEE But is that "lady?" Or "laddy? Inquiring minds want to know!

One is reminded of the MASCONs. Clearly large pockets of ice near the surface (Oh I wish) will show up as LESSCONs! Hence the other probe: GRAIL.

If there is one topic in which I am in agreement with Messrs: Wingo, Spudis, et al; it is the need to quantify the Lunar environment and assets in the short term acquiring the expertise in remote sensing, surveying and utilisation. So that the next set of probes can repeat the process in the NEO belt. Which will probably be easier to *commercially exploit* both from a point of dV and geo-politics. Once the Mass driver or Moon stalk is up and running however... (Waves hands!)

Oh to bad we have been there and done that. All this is moot considering we aren't going back or have any plans to send probes there. So I'm sure a report was laid on Bolden's desk and without even reading it he just rolled his eyes and tossed it in the garbage.. Obama's Lacky and according another article an oil company pawn. That is why we need scientist running NASA not political Lackies and corporate w^%$#s .

Damn the Gravity!

Fred,

Webb, probably NASA's best administrator was a "political Lacky and corporate w^%$#s". Most of the "Scientist" administrators have been unmitigated disasters.