Slashdot Mirror
Hubble Zooms In On Moon Minerals
DIY News writes "Lunar scientists have already returned to the moon, using the Hubble Space Telescope and old Apollo Program rock samples to begin prospecting for useful ores. Locating ores rich in oxygen and metals is seen as the first step in making the next decade's human return to the moon more self sufficient and cost effective. Some wavelengths of UV are filtered out by Earth's atmosphere, which is why Hubble can do the job better than a ground-based telescope."
I wish we could have a hybrid approach to space flight. Start with an electro-magnetic rail gun to launch bulk supplies and massy stuff (girders, sheet metal, oxygen, water, spare fuel) into orbit, coupled with rocket launches to carry fragile stuff (people, computers). With cheap bulk-to-orbit, put together a real space station and get working on the space elevator from the top down.
While we're up there, how about we start work on power satellites? We can reduce the cost of electricity, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and fight global warming in one fell swoop! Once we have cheap bulk-to-orbit lots of things become feasible. The first private company to achieve this cheaply will be disgustingly profitable.
Why, oh why could't I have been born filthy rich?
Isn't it spelled "Frist Psot!"?
Evil people don't think they're evil. - George Lucas, Making of Ep III