The other side of the moon

On August 23, 2023, India's Chrono 3 spacecraft made history by becoming the first to land on the lunar South Pole, a location that is normally hidden from view from Earth. What makes this lunar hideaway so fascinating to scientists? It turns out that it is hiding something valuable—precious lunar ice—that is thought to be more abundant there than what we have found up north. It's easy to understand why scientists are so excited about this—frozen water source that could be essential to constructing a permanent lunar residence or even supplying energy for Mars missions.

Scientists have been aware of this ice for more than 20 years after a NASA spacecraft unintentionally discovered it on a trip. In 2018, NASA proudly stated that they are 100% certain of it, claiming that the moon's South Pole is plentiful with water. Imagine that future lunar settlers could access this water supply, which could enable us to continue life on the desolate lunar surface. Additionally, by deftly separating the water into oxygen and hydrogen, we could obtain both air and rocket fuel, which would make moon missions more practical and self-sustaining. This is also a great window into the past, as the ice may be as old as the moon itself, potentially opening doors to both the moon and Earth's deep interior.

Mysteries aside, it appears that water isn't really uncommon in space; in fact, there may be many planets where life may exist. scientists know this because scientists have begun to detect water vapor surrounding stars, and this water is strikingly comparable to the water in our own solar system. This discovery implies that the water on Earth originated in space. Water forms in a cloud of incredibly hot vapor around stars, turns into ice, and sticks to tiny dust particles. Over time, these particles join together to form larger objects like comets, planets, and other objects.

This is how water is dispersed throughout the cosmos and may be how it arrived on our planet and the Moon as well. Scientists believe that the lunar ice may have traveled here millennia ago, possibly by hitching a ride on water. Some of these comets and planets end up in our solar system. Rich asteroids that struck the moon's surface have significant implications for humanity. The southern pole is a perfect place for humanity to build a real moon base; picture brick domes connected by covert underground tunnels; some will be cruising the lunar terrain in their Jeeps, while others will be busily operating computers.

We have some pretty amazing ideas about how to build this first. You probably picture hauling Hefty and water-draining shelters all the way from Earth, but perhaps there's a better way. Consider our civilization's history: whenever we ventured to a new location, we surveyed the area for resources and used them to survive and thrive. This is how we spread across our own planet, so why shouldn't we do the same across the moon? You might be wondering what resources the moon might offer; we know about the ice and how it can be converted into water, but we can clearly see that our planet lacks Beautiful greenery and palatable food

The moon does, in fact, have much to offer in terms of sunshine and mineral resources. Unlike Earth, where the sun rises and sets, the lunar poles provide a breathtaking spectacle. Since the sun gently circles the earth during the day, it can supply an almost constant source of energy. Can you image living in a world where sunshine is always present? I'm sure the solar panels will love it, but me not so much.

However, we could still make use of the Sun's heat and light. Honestly, we should just use everything. If any spare metal remains after creating oxygen, find a use for it as well. We must take responsible care of the environment both on Earth and in the Moon, which is why my scientists are discovering new ways to turn regolith—the Moon's most abundant resource—into strong bricks. Scientists hope to create a lunar dust 3D printer by harnessing the sun's heat to melt the dust layer by layer. Engineers have also successfully baked bricks in solar ovens and microwave-zapped lunar soil, becoming rather skilled at both techniques.

So, maybe we'll set up a small brick factory on the moon and construct regolith homes. It's kind of like Minecraft except that you have to construct a tiny house using whatever new material you find, if you're lucky. These bricks could be used to build entire buildings, possibly covering inflatable modules or reviving abandoned Landers, so astronauts will need to learn how to become proficient bricklayers? No, they won't be able to complete the job on their own; instead, we'd need to develop a small automated system that involves cooperative robots under human supervision.

Scientists predict that despite all of this technology, living on the moon will be—let's say—cozy. The designs may include multipurpose spaces or stacked dwelling quarters. But there would also be difficulties because the moon experiences extremely high temperatures—imagine 212°F during the day and 290°F at night. In addition, the moon is constantly exposed to solar radiation, cosmic rays, and micrometeorite impacts, all of which gradually erode anything on the surface.

The lunar dust presents another significant challenge because there is no air to breathe on the moon. This particular dust is particularly sticky and can cause problems for astronauts, causing them to sneeze and have watery eyes, similar to lunar hay fever. It can also damage equipment and space suits, so it's best to avoid tampering with them. It is difficult to breathe due to the microscopic particles in the dust that can float around in the low lunar gravity caused by meteor strikes. Scientists have discovered that the dust is formed when meteors strike the moon, producing sharp glass shards and poisonous particles.

Since there isn't wind or rain on the moon like there is on Earth, they are currently researching it to figure out how to stop this bothersome issue from destroying their entire mission. This lunar haven is not as empty as it seems. Low-frequency electromagnetic waves on the moon are like whispers from the outer ends of the universe, and scientists want to learn more about them. Through the process of recording and analyzing these waves, scientists can discover the origins of the cosmos. The goal of NASA's Artemis mission, which made a successful return to Earth in December 2022, is to build a space station in orbit around the moon in order to establish a long-term presence there. 2020 will see the launch of Artemis 2 and 3 into lunar orbit, respectively, in 2024 and 2024.

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