Astronomy log # 1

By Stephen Soljacich
 Water on the moon
• As of this year large amounts of ice
have been found on the moon. This
finding has long ranging implications.
This discovery was made by N.A.S.A
when they purposely crashed satellites
into the lunar surface in order to view
the debris and determine if there was
ice in some of the craters on the moon.
The study showed that there is “40
craters, ranging in size from 1 to 9 miles
across, with pockets of ice. Scientists
estimate at least 600 million tons of ice
could be entombed in these craters.”
( ). And a new study suggests that
there is at least 100 times that amount
underneath the moons surface.
 Beyond the Moon
• This is huge news, according to Dr. Paul Spudis,
 with the Lunar and Planetary Institute in
Houston, told the BBC, “Now we can say with
a fair degree of confidence that a sustainable
human presence on the Moon is possible. It's
possible using the resources we find there.” a
presence is possible there because we can
convert the water into rocket fuel drinkable
water and for plant, and even into oxygen.
Some countries are in fact planning a moon
base. In fact Chinese and Americans both have
plans to set up a moon base. After a lunar
base is established we could have farther
reaching manned expeditions. This would be
possible because the base would act as a
refueling station for the spacecrafts. In fact
N.A.S.A has on their website which states their
goal of heading to mars after a moon base is
set up.
 Moon ambitions
• Both the US and china have ambitions for
setting up a moon base. There are many
reasons why nations would want to set up a
moon base. For example there are
economic, political scientific and population
gains. There would be many economic gains
if we would set up a base and start mining
the huge amounts of different metals such
as iron and lunar helium (the helium would
be used for nuclear fusion power plants)
one of the biggest supporters for the mining
operations for china is a man by the name
of Ouyang Ziyuan an expert on geological
research on underground nuclear
testing and non earth materials. The US also
has similar economic aims but are not
currently in effect
 Political gains
• Through out history recent and ancient
common goals or threats have brought
countries together for example the
Germans in WWI and WWII brought
together the allies, the Persians
brought together Sparta and Athens. In
recent times the International space
station has brought many countries
together with combine efforts towards
a common goal. An international space
station would do the same thing to a
greater extent of previous ambitions.
This would happen because it would
require the effort of many different
countries to complete and maintain
 Economic gains
• . There are many reasons why nations
would want to set up a moon base. For
example there are economic, political
scientific and population gains. There
would be many economic gains if we
would set up a base and start mining
the huge amounts of different metals
such as iron and lunar helium (the
helium would be used for nuclear fusion
power plants) one of the biggest
supporters for the mining operations for
china is a man by the name of Ouyang
Ziyuan an expert on geological research
on underground nucelar testing and non
earth materials. The US also has similar
economic aims but are not currently in
effect
 Scientific gains
• There would be scientific gains from a
moon base, covering many different
aspects of science. If you are looking
for evidence look no further then the
Apollo and Gemini missions. We
gained a unheard amount of
information from these missions such
as the high resolution photos taken
from earth which spun off the satellite
photos and studies of weather from
space of today. These programs have
created a lot of technology and
information imagine what a base on
the moon can discover.
 Expansion of the human race
• It has been portrayed in many science fiction
movies books and art a log term colony on an
extraterrestrial planet. I believe The expansion of
our culture and people is a quintessential part of
human nature. To expand our domain to an
extraterrestrial object would be huge. Not to
mention for filling to us. Americans in particular
would appeal to this idea of a “manifest destiny”
and new hope. For this reason alone I believe
there will be a Moon colony in a relatively short
period of time. Exploration of the moon is very
important. It would not only would collect
valuable information about the solar system but
it would lead the way to many different things
such as establishing a human presence there and
paving the way for further exploration of our
solar system and the universe.
 Mining on the moon
• Mining on the moon could be
vary profitable and cost
effective. With the discoveries of
water it is possible to sustain a
lasting human presence to
maintain the mining operations
and there would be less
overhead cost of getting rid of
extra materials and no
environmental control. Also
everything is lighter on the moon
so mining would be easier
 Exploration of Mars
• Humans have launched various missions to
explore mars. Dozens of probes have flown by
and taken photos such as the Viking program
and the mariner program along with early
soviet programs. In fact a few rovers have
landed on the surface studying rocks and other
things about the surface of the planet. Some
examples of rovers are Opportunity, Spirit, and
phoenix and many others have landed. The last
rover landing was called phoenix and it landed
in area that was very sticky, which is peculiar
for a planet that is supposed to be consisted of
barren desert. Scientist that studied the results
of the phoenix Lander concluded that the
planet had evidence of liquid water and
volcanic activity. Further evidence for life.
 Building blocks of life on Mars
• Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, named after the
ancient roman god of war. Could this planet hold the
secrets to our beginnings and possibly the future of our
planet? Could it hold the answer to alien life? Mars once
thought to be an arid inhospitable planet has proven to
be much more than that. It has been found to consist of
many building blocks of life, for example it contains
chemical elements of life such as carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen. Water one of the other foundations of life has
recently been found without a reasonable doubt in the
form of ice on the both of the poles of mars. Also there
are gullies, canals and riverbeds that might of at one
point may have had flowing water. And scientists believe
there is water in liquid form either on the surface or
beneath it. Another building block of life is a source of
energy that organisms can use. Mars has this with both
the sun and possibly geothermal energy. The idea for
geothermal energy has been reinforced with the
discovery of warm water deep in South African gold
mines in which there was living life excluded from the
rest of earth evolution. may have had flowing water.
 More evidence of life
Martian asteroid fossil
• More evidence of life came in the
form of an asteroid that shot off Mars
and collided with earth. This asteroid
supposedly had fossilized evidence of
martin life. Although there are some
skeptics to this idea the evidence is
quite thought provoking. But this is
not only the first example of Martian
fossils, another one is the pictures
taken by the opportunity mars rover,
Opportunity fossils
this is not a single fossil but multiple
different fossils that are nearly
identical and have the same triangle
marking. Also these so called fossils
where found miles apart.
 Methane cycles on Mars
• Another indicator of life was found
on mars. This indicator was the
findings of methane gas cycles on
the planet. These methane cycles
spike during the spring and
summer months and sharply
decrees during the Martian winter.
Scientists do say that is to early to
decide weather this is a result of
geology or biology. But they do
say something is creating the
methane which strongly indicates
life
 Impact of life
• If Mars proves to have life or
had life it will have long
reaching implications. If it is
proven it will mean that we
are not alone not only in are
solar system but in the
universe, for the odds of life
and intelligent life vastly
incise if there was life on TWO
planets in our own solar
system. Also if it dose support
life then it could sustain a
lasting human presence
 Life on Titan
• A new study shows that titan (one of Saturn's
moons) may contain the building blocks of
life. It has in its atmosphere high energy
oxygen ions and heavy molecular ions higher
in the atmosphere. When you put these
things together you can have the possibility
of complex molecular structures. A recent
study shows with the high amount of
radiation that hits the planet it can cause the
molecules to break apart. When they tested
these conditions on earth they got five
nucleotide bases used by life on Earth
(cytosine, adenine, thymine, guanine and
uracil) and two amino acids, glycine and
alanine. Scientist say that this dose not mean
that there is life but they say that titan is
“that it is possible to make very complex
molecules
 Privately funded mars mission
• The thought has been put out that a
commercially funded mars mission is
possible and not only probable
proponents of this idea state that the
trip would cost 150 billion dollars. This
might seem like a lot but, with the
selling of merchandise, selling of land
on mars and with the promise of
return from mining this number seems
not to be such a high value.
Opponents of this state that billionaire
investors would not want to invest in
such a risky operation and that
anything mined on mars would cost to
much to ship back for the value
Haybusa capsule contains asteroid particles.

• A capsule sent out by