Moon's south pole revealed in 'dramatic' new 3D map

Moon's south pole revealed in 'dramatic' new 3D map

space.newscientist.com

Earth-based radar observations have produced a detailed 3D map of the Moon's south polar region, revealing a dramatic and rugged landscape. The map will help NASA assess the site's potential for setting up a base.

NASA plans to return humans to the Moon by 2020 and wants to eventually set up a permanent base there. The Moon's poles are considered particularly good locations for a base.

(visit the link for the full news article)

So we have a full 3-d map of the South Pole. From this we think there might be some water on the moon and therefore will sustain Lunies, aka Moononians, aka Lunarians (people of the moon). So why would they need a permanent base on the moon by 2020? Something must be going down up there. The race for Helium-3 (He-3)?

space.newscientist.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 28/2/2008 by Sinsear]

reply to post by Sinsear


You're reading it wrong... they say they want to put man on the moon by 2020 and "eventually" a permanent base.
But yeah, would be nice to know precisely what they are after.
It always bugs me with things like this. Wasn't this supposed to be a giant leap for mankind and not a giant "let's fill our pockets with money".

Ahh thanks for the correction. Here is a video to keep this a multiple line post!

I read somewhere that helium-3 is really economical, something like ten tonnes of the stuff would keep the uk in power for ten years! Im not 100% sure of that but I remember it was almost unbelievably economical, If true then the race for the moons resources has probably been underway for some time now. To get there we are going to need a lot of money, I know, absolutely jack the prices of everything up till you raise sqillions, get to the moon, build a base, control the flow of energy back, and make squillions for ever, trouble is, we don't have forever...