Lunar Water Ice: More Valuable Than Gold | The $10 Million Per Tonne Discovery

Описание: Scientists have discovered an estimated 6 billion metric tons of water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon's poles—and it could be worth more than any resource on Earth. While launching water to the Moon costs $10 million per tonne, extracting it locally could cost just $0.5 million per tonne, transforming the economics of space exploration.

In this video, we explore:
How NASA's Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions first detected lunar water ice in the 1990s
The neutron spectrometer technology that maps hydrogen concentrations to 50 parts per million
Why the LCROSS impact in 2009 confirmed 5.6% water content in Cabeus crater
How electrolysis splits water into rocket propellant (89% oxygen by weight)
Why multiple nations are racing to extract this ice before 2030
The economic analysis showing $2.4 billion annual revenue potential

Lunar water ice isn't just frozen molecules—it's the foundation for a cislunar economy, enabling Mars missions, refueling depots, and sustained human presence beyond Earth.

🔬 SOURCES & REFERENCES:
NASA Lunar Prospector Mission Data
LCROSS Impact Analysis (2009)
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mapping (2024)
Commercial Lunar Propellant Architecture Studies
Moon Mineralogy Mapper (Chandrayaan-1)

#LunarWater #SpaceExploration #NASA #MoonMining #Artemis #SpaceEconomy

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Illustrative visuals · Educational content
Based on scientific research, peer-reviewed studies, and official space agency publications.
Visualizations are artistic interpretations intended to support public understanding