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

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

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 ORBITAL ATLAS creates evidence-based space documentaries. Subscribe for deep-dive explorations of humanity's expansion beyond Earth. 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