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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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NASA Finds Lots of Water on Moon

Rocket probe discovers large amounts of ice

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(Newser) – A NASA probe has turned up water on the moon. Lots of water. “We practically tasted it with the impact,” said a geologist. The discovery—made last month after the space agency blasted the probe into the moon to study the debris—raises the chances of one day setting up a lunar outpost. What's more, the frozen water could hold clues to the origins of the universe.

Water has been found on the moon before, but in very small amounts and only bound to dirt particles. The presence of large quantities of ice will be helpful for astronauts participating in extended moonwalks planned for 2020—both for drinking and for conversion into hydrogen for rocket fuel, Space.com reports.

This artist's rendering provided by NASA via Brown University shows the Centaur upper stage rocket separating from its shepherding spacecraft on a trajectory toward the moon.
This artist's rendering provided by NASA via Brown University shows the Centaur upper stage rocket separating from its shepherding spacecraft on a trajectory toward the moon.   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image provided by NASA shows the first image taken of the moon from the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite Friday morning Oct. 9, 2009.
This image provided by NASA shows the first image taken of the moon from the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite Friday morning Oct. 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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14 comments
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Unaffiliated
Nov 13, 09 1:32 PM CST
This makes a human mission to Mars much easier, because you don't need to carry water for the whole trip when you blast off from Earth. You can take just enough water to get to the moon, then fill up the tank there. Because the moon has less gravity, you won't need to burn as much fuel carrying all that water as you would have if you blasted of from Earth. Reply
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dax
Nov 13, 09 1:35 PM CST
Just throw some Tang into your travel kit.
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+5
dax
Nov 13, 09 1:34 PM CST
"Moon River, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, wherever you're going I'm going your way." Reply
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+4
SpectralBob
Nov 13, 09 1:35 PM CST
Here we go... Reply
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0
gabo
Nov 13, 09 1:43 PM CST
I heard Nicholas Cage has a lakeside lot there. Bought it for a song... Reply
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+7

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