Slashdot Mirror


Former Senator Wants to Mine The Moon

MarkWhittington writes "Harrison Schmitt, Apollo Moonwalker, geologist, and former United States Senator, recently presented a plan to solve the world's long term energy problems by developing fusion power fueled with helium-3 mined from the Moon. He presented this plan in a speech at Williston Basin Petroleum Conference."

8 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Briilliant by frovingslosh · · Score: 3, Funny

    If we only had helium 3 we could easily have fusion and a limitless source of energy. Good thing that there are no other technical issues to resolve. So clearly we should take mining equipment to the moon, mine the helium 3 that might be there and then send it back to earth in huge rocket ships, no matter how much energy all of that expends. This message was brought to you by a former U.S. Senator, so you know there is no need to question the logic behind it.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  2. Let's Do It by Nukedoom · · Score: 1, Funny

    We'll only need one man for the job.

  3. Re:Nice idea but a few missing steps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Step 3: cloning astronauts

    Step 4: suspended animation

  4. I'm sorry, that will not be possible by scsirob · · Score: 3, Funny

    He can't do that. I own the moon, according to this certificate I bought years ago.
    Please have him call me to negotiate a deal first.

    --
    To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
  5. helium-3 vs ice-9 by magarity · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just hope that helium-3 won't bond regular helium in some strange new way and make it into a solid.

  6. mining the moon is easy by simoncpu+was+here · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just point your portal gun at the moon.

  7. Wouldn't it be nice... by Ardeaem · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...if there were already some kind of giant fusion reactor near us in space? And what if that giant fusion reactor were constantly beaming some of its energy at us? That would be AWESOME.

  8. Re:Why is this notable? by RsG · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not going to ask how you knew that. I for one did not, but assumed it was much more expensive, at least for the end user (obviously cheaper further up the supply chain).

    Next time I'll use weapons grade plutonium or HP inkjet cartridges as my point of comparison. :-)

    --
    Erotic is when you use a feather. Exotic is when you use the whole chicken.