Russia to Mine Moon for Energy
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Monday, Jan. 30, 2006 11:45 a.m. EST
Russia to Mine Moon for Energy
Russian space officials announced plans last week to build a permanent base on the moon to mine isotope helium-3, a promising fuel for nuclear energy.
With the move, Russia joined the United States in pushing for a permanent presence on the moon and in encouraging speculation on helium-3Â’s feasibility for energy production on earth.
"We are planning to build a permanent base on the moon by 2015,” said Nikolai Sevastyanov, head of the Energia space corporation, at an academic conference as reported by the ITAR-TASS news agency.
"By 2020,” he continued, "we can begin the industrial-scale delivery of the rare isotope helium-3.”
President Bush called for the creation of a permanent U.S. base on the moon in early 2004. BushÂ’s announcement also generated speculation about U.S. interest in helium-3.
Some scientists believe the isotope could be the next great source of energy for the world.
Gerald Kulcinski, a nuclear engineering professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in January 2004 that helium-3 could transform energy production without causing harm to the environment.
"If we could land a space shuttle on the moon, fill the cargo with canisters of helium-3 mined from the surface and bring the shuttle back to Earth,” Kulcinski promised, "that cargo would supply the entire electrical power needs of the United States for an entire year.”
And, he continued, helium-3 "doesn’t produce greenhouse emissions. It’s safe for the environment.”
Another scientist, John Santarius of the University of WisconsinÂ’s Fusion Technology Institute, told the Journal-Sentinel that helium-3 provides one million times more energy per pound than a ton of coal.
Though rare on earth, the isotope is abundant on the moon. KulcinskiÂ’s research team has estimated that more than 1 million metric tons is trapped in the upper layers of lunar rock.
If their calculations are correct, the moon would contain enough helium-3 to power 1,000 years of electricity in the United States.
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How come so many weird project lately?
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anyone remember the old 1970s series Space 1999?
Moon Base Alpha..
sounds like it's gonna happen
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Once they have plundered the moon, they can land a craft mars to plunder its iron as well.
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1970s? I haven't born yet. Tell us what happened that time.Originally posted by the Bear:anyone remember the old 1970s series Space 1999?
Moon Base Alpha..
sounds like it's gonna happen -
are they legally allowed to do that?
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the russians are going to mine nuclear fuel..
well in the series, there was a moon base there, Moon Base Alpha...
a series of accidents caused a nuclear explosion on the moon and it was blasted out of orbit and the moon started to drift away from Earth.. and thus began the adventures of the crew of the moon base.. -
basket...go kachiao e moon...wait e moon ki siao n earth's tides go crazy than lead to armaggeddon than they know
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If the moon were to drift away from the earth, it would be more interesting to see what happens to earth... maybe armagreddon like events may occurOriginally posted by the Bear:the russians are going to mine nuclear fuel..
well in the series, there was a moon base there, Moon Base Alpha...
a series of accidents caused a nuclear explosion on the moon and it was blasted out of orbit and the moon started to drift away from Earth.. and thus began the adventures of the crew of the moon base..
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Then the prophecies will come true!Originally posted by harryryan:basket...go kachiao e moon...wait e moon ki siao n earth's tides go crazy than lead to armaggeddon than they know 
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We have one drilling to the core of the earth, one building an aritificial sun, while now, we have one who is exploting energy from moon. moon-sun-star .... explosion.... then big bang???Originally posted by DriftingGuy:If the moon were to drift away from the earth, it would be more interesting to see what happens to earth... maybe armagreddon like events may occur -
wait yue lao angry how? no gf/bf for you all!!
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If the earth lacks a moon, it might be possible that the earth will stop rotating although it will still orbit the sun. In that case you have morning that last 6 months followed by 6 months of night
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I think the Russians want to find Chang e lar.Originally posted by Ito_^:wait yue lao angry how? no gf/bf for you all!!
They want to borrow energy from Chang e.... you know,..... long term loan... -
i think they wan to rape her.Originally posted by News:I think the Russians want to find Chang e lar.
They want to borrow energy from Chang e.... you know,..... long term loan... -
Like that, she won't lend us her energy leh.Originally posted by Ito_^:i think they wan to rape her. -
Hmm...materials for fusion...or for a more powerful type of hydrogen bomb?
Maybe moon will be the biggest hydrogen bomb in this system after all if someone detonates a hydrogen bomb on it. -
go detonate the sun la. better.Originally posted by maggot:Hmm...materials for fusion...or for a more powerful type of hydrogen bomb?
Maybe moon will be the biggest hydrogen bomb in this system after all if someone detonates a hydrogen bomb on it. -
dun care. i juz wanna punch yue lao.Originally posted by News:Like that, she won't lend us her energy leh.
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I see what problem you are facing now.Originally posted by Ito_^:dun care. i juz wanna punch yue lao. -
Detonate the moon to detonate the earth and the sun.....Originally posted by Ito_^:go detonate the sun la. better. -
confirm some dodo will c0ck up n cause a nuclear holocaust either when transporting e energy back to earth or when mining on e moon.... either way is good bye n so long homo sapiens
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Save our dying planet.
