Moon Mining Gets a Closer Look

happylucky writes "There are many obstacles to creating a space colony on the moon, primarily food, water, and oxygen. Since it is so expensive to bring supplies from the earth, some scientists have suggested that we mine the moon. In an article in the Toronto Star, Dale Boucher suggests the best way to do this would be to develop a mining colony. To that end, the Sudbury-based Northern Center for Advanced Technology has linked Canada's mining industry with some of the top minds on space.Mining the moon was considered earlier this month at the Planetary and Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium which attracted some 100 delegates, including experts from the Canadian Space Agency, NASA and the European Space Agency. There are other hurdles of course that need to be figured out. The moon's gravity is one sixth that on Earth. New research, however, may lead to a solution to this problem as well. It may be possible to develop a sticky compound that can be adjusted by UV light to help adhere boots and objects to the floor."

If they mined the moon...

[Anonymous Coward]

... how would this affect our tides over many many years? Don't we have enough rocks already? :-)

Canada?

[Anonymous Coward]

They have a space agency?

The Right tools for the Right job!

[Anonymous Coward]

ncluding experts from the Canadian Space Agency

Since they built the CanadaArm and CanadaArm2, can we look foward to the CanadaShovel and CanadaShovel2.

Wait a second...

[-Brodalco-]

"It may be possible to develop a sticky compound that can be adjusted by UV light to help adhere boots and objects to the floor." If you fall over and can't hit the UV switch, and your mouth is stuck to the floor, will you suffocate?

Cheese...

[__aaclcg7560]

I can't wait until they start mining all that green cheese. The Food Network will never be the same again once that exotic item hits the market. Hmmm... cheese...

Jewels?

[CyberDave]

Anyone hear anything about mining Moon Saphires? We need them as a prize for the person who solves the global warming problem.

Re:I've thought this for a long time

[maelstrom]

Screw that, I'm waiting for the Moon is a Harsh Mistress ;)

Best way to mine?

[Clazzy]

some scientists have suggested that we mine the moon.
the best way to do this would be to develop a mining colony

It's nice to know the scientists put their degrees to good use.

Re:I've thought this for a long time

[__aaclcg7560]

Who wants a Harsh Mistrress when a Leather Goddess [wikipedia.org] has serious leather to be harsher.

Re:Cheese...

[Assassin bug]

[enters as James Earl Jones]... In space nobody can hear you cut it...

Re:bad idea

[CrazyJim1]

Something tells me it's a dumbass idea to start digging up other planets just yet.

One could only imagine the damage done to the Moon's ecosystem.

Re:Oh. My. Gods.

[radinator]

"Rather than spreading out and destroying other planets/moons/celestial bodies, how about first learning, as a species, how to preserve the planet we are already on?"

Give me a break.

How about this instead: Rather than you traveling out and destroying other rooms/streets/cities, how about you first learning, as an individual, to preserve the room you're already in.

Re:I've thought this for a long time

[shadowbearer]

Yep, she can expose you to a much more effective vacuum than any mistress here inside our atmosphere.

SB

Weak gravity is not a problem

[slobber]

Just think of the recent weight gain trends... By the time everything else is ready for the moon colony, I have a feeling that moon would become the only place where one half of our population would feel comfortable. I can already imagine "lose 5/6th of your weight in 3 hours!" commercials.

Re:Oh. My. Gods.

[AriaStar]

Conservation. There's still plenty of life here that is more worthy of being saved than we are. The deer and rabbits didn't rape this "lifeless rock" almost past use and use up all they could because they felt entitled to it, above other species, as humans have done.

I hope you're kidding. Otherwise leave /. forever

[HornWumpus]

Moron or troll? You decide.

Re:Environmental Issue

[rxrx]

I bet you can find one if you look hard enough.

Re:How to ensure the success

[alshithead]

Yes, minor miners are a minority in mines.

Re:I've thought this for a long time

[Abcd1234]

When was the last time that the police force was profitable? The standing army?

Bah, merely sucking at the governmental teat! The private sector can do domestic security far more efficiently! Damn pinko commies...

Sticky compound for boots?

[eclectro]

Why don't they use the stuff movie theatres have?

Re:Oh. My. Gods.

[baKanale]

...and yours can have what's left down here.

Unless we get bored and decide to start shelling them with rocks from orbit.

I can see it now:
Mike: "Man, I think we should stop hitting Cheyenne Mountain."
Mannie: "Why?"
Mike: "It's not there any more."

Re:And we want a colony... why?

[sabinm]

I really don't understand the use of an American colony. I'm all for Asia, Africa and the Indies, but America? What's there that's useful? I can see it as a shorter route to the Indies, but it's not very close to Europe and I don't think we want to do Africa quite yet. It's also a heck of a lot less hospitable than Asia, and takes more time to get to (assuming in situ ship building in Gibraltar). As far as I can tell, the only useful things in America is tobacco, safe haven for religous zealots, lots of sunlight, and a nice spot for singles(ie dark-skinned natives). Oh, and many (but not all) of the raw materials for things like timber and furs. And some oil, but no one really knows if that's useful or not.
Anyone care to fill me in? I know it's wicked cool and all, but lets do Asia!

Re:I've thought this for a long time

[crhylove]

Is that SERIOUSLY what you look for in a mistress? Her ability to use a vacuum? I don't think you get the point of a mistress..