China eyes 2017 moon landing

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by Mao
wait, how valid is this helium-3 thing? Any scientists out there?

Google is your friend. He-3 is a clean fuel for fusion reactors, leaving very little radioactive residuals.

Scientists estimate there are about1 million tons of helium 3 on the moon, enough to power the world for thousandsof years. The equivalent of a single space shuttle load or roughly 25 tonscould supply the entire United States' energy needs for a year, accordingto Apollo17 astronaut and FTI researcher Harrison Schmitt.

But:

Indeed for now, the economics of extractingand transporting helium 3 from the moon are also problematic. Even if scientistssolved the physics of helium 3 fusion, "it would be economically unfeasible,"asserted Jim Benson, chairman of SpaceDev in Poway, California, which strivesto be one of the first commercial space-exploration companies. "UnlessI'm mistaken, you'd have to strip-mine large surfaces of the moon."

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/helium3_000630.html

Perhaps I should buy some real estate on the moon after all, and then sell the mining rights when the time comes? My grandchildren could be billionaries. Anyone knows the web site?

[Japher]

maybe they don't know it isn't made of cheese

[Drake Tungsten]

While I'd love to beat a commie country to the moon for a second time, America would probably be better off working towards a space elevator.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Agathon
And you guys don't have borked infrastructure?

In that case you should be spending NASA's money on proper health care for your citizens.

Aggie, compare your average Chinese town to your average US town. No comparison infastructure wise.

BTW if you'd read my post you'd know I called for a cooperative colonization of space.

[Datajack Franit]

what a terrible waste of money

I see they're doing the same as the URSS

but my, if they fall, what a noise they'll make