Sounds like we need to send a probe or ten to the Moon. Who knows what’s down there? (Although the answer is going to be “some rocks” as far as most non-astronomers are concerned.)
I would love to know the rough cost to send a probe to the moon.
A newly discovered moon tunnel
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Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#102TLDR: Space nerds theorized moon caves since the 80s. Moon caves created by young moon lava flows billions of years ago found in early 2000s. Japanese space agency finished mapping a tunnel last week and found it's 50km long and 500m wide with a flat bottom perfect for building space buildings in. This is news that's breaking to a revitalized moon rocket industry with all agencies and players building their own big m…
Is there any advantage for a country to have a base on the moon?
Even without exploitable resources, space observation (telescopes) and communications systems on the Moon would have to contend with less interference from terrestrial noise, I’d guess. Having a foothold on the Moon would definitely assist further space exploration.
Getaways to the moon would also become a great new tourism industry for the ultra-rich and wealthy, whose money would in turn spur advancements in off-world habitation and comfort that could trickle down to the general populace.
I also think all human political leadership should be relocated to the Moon, at least for a week or two every year, to help them appreciate Earth a little better [0].
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#103Earlier quoted context omitted.
The most common elements on the moon are quite common on the earth too; I don't think the value in mining them will ever come from bringing the mined materials back to earth. The value is going to come from having and maintaining an established base on the moon. The moon is a high point in the earth's gravity well that's full of raw materials that can be used to build things that can go further out. Mining on the moo…
Though a jewelry made from Moon elements would probably have a ten-fold price tag than the Earth’s counterpart, because it’s from the Moon.
Maybe at first, but not once they're mass-produced on the kind of scale that would be needed to justify the cost of moon-based mining.
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#104When such discoveries are made who "owns" that real estate?
Whoever wins the inevitable conflict if anything of value is found.
This is a very wise answer! This reminds me of the movie "Iron Sky" which involves Nazis on the Moon. I found the film surprisingly intelligent (at least more than I expected) and had some visually nice political commentary.
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
Whoever gets there first, and can realistically form a threat credible enough to defend it. You’ll probably need the backing of a nuclear power, although off-world representation of earthly countries might not turn out to be particularly credible threats (enough to intimidate new emerging space-based powers), or remain truly politically cohesive with their root terrestrial counterparts, depending...
Or maybe the people who get there can just agree to cooperate instead and share the land, unlike how we do things down here. One can dream.
This is actually the way the Outer Space Treaty is written - a state party to it retains jurisdiction over any object it launches, but is required to keep it open to "representatives" of other state parties.
For a more complete look at the legal issues involved, seehttp://www.thespacereview.com/article/3286/1
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#106Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
The moon's core isn't made of the swirling molten iron dynamo like Earth's is. No swirling molten iron, no magnetic field. No magnetic field, nothing deflects the solar wind that then, literally, blows away any fledgling atmosphere. It's believed that Mars' atmosphere was considerably more dense than it is today, but along the way, its core cooled, and it lost its protective magnetic shield, allowing the solar wind t…
I've read that it's the same case with Venus' core, but its atmosphere is far more dense than either Earth's or Mars'.
Venus has an induced magnetic field that may protect its atmosphere. https://www.astrobio.net/also-in-news/a-magnetic-surprise-fr...
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#108Sounds like we need to send a probe or ten to the Moon. Who knows what’s down there? (Although the answer is going to be “some rocks” as far as most non-astronomers are concerned.)
I would love to know the rough cost to send a probe to the moon.
If only there were terrorists on the moon, then no one would worry about the cost.
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe solar storms? The Sun sends out quite a lot of radiation from time to time. Earth is protected by its magnetic field and atmosphere, the Moon and Mars not so much.
Am I incorrect without an active lava core, the magnetic field is basically non-existient? Then Moon tunnel is probably not good enough for humans to remain healthy.
Rock is pretty good at shielding from electromagnetic radiation. It obviously depends on how deep you are, but any shielding beats no shielding.
Re: A newly discovered moon tunnel
#110Earlier quoted context omitted.
Whomever can occupy it. Outer Space Treaty prohibits national claims but not use for peaceful purposes. So if you sit on it, you own it.
According to link above the treaty prohibits all sovereign claims. However, getting there can be made into a reasonable barrier to competition. Sure you can also exploit the moon, but how are you going to get there?
Given enough potential profit, getting there shouldn't be a big problem. You already have a bunch of nations currently selling orbital launches, and various private companies didn't seem to have big problems designing their own engines and rockets.