China is going to mine the Moon for helium-3 fusion fuel - Polidicks

the chinese couldn't even get a rover to work.

[QUOTE=JohnFisher89;47024045]We have the knowledge and how to, what we don't have is the budget. As soon as china goes to the moon, we'll go to mars. It's a game of leap frog.[/QUOTE] as soon as china goes to the moon, we'll get off our asses, build an actual mars-transfer capable space ship and go to the god damn moon (first) then mars

[t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/RX-78-2_Gundam_illustration.gif[/t] It's happening? [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

God bless you sort of Communist bastards.

[QUOTE=V12US;47019439]If everyone else starts mining too, it's going to turn into one hell of a shitstorm, considering everyone signed a treaty where everything that's not on earth and not made by man belongs to everyone and is unclaimable.[/QUOTE] that treaty will be torn to shreds the instant someone actually builds an off-world mining base or outpost [editline]27th January 2015[/editline] nobody will go 'well the chinese are mining on the moon, guess we'll send them an angry letter and not go take advantage of the enormous bounty of raw materials the rest of the solar system offers us"

[QUOTE=Sobek-;47018405]It's only a matter of time now... [img]http://pictures.mastermarf.com/blog/2009/091009-mooncrash.jpg[/img] Jokes aside, how abundant is helium-3 on the moon? Enough to be worth the cost of missions back and forth to acquire it?[/QUOTE] What movie is this?

[QUOTE=greendevil;47025238]What movie is this?[/QUOTE] Bad Boys 2

[QUOTE=autodesknoob;47025255]Bad Boys 2[/QUOTE] Lel, might as well be... [QUOTE=greendevil;47025238]What movie is this?[/QUOTE] It's from The Time Machine mate, odd movie. 2002, Guy Pearce, makes you want to chuck shit at your screen every time he doesn't just do this or do that. You'll love it.

Still the article tells nothing about China's intentions to mine something. They're obviously just testing the waters as for now. They don't have rockets heavy enough to easily send lots of equipment to the moon, not to mention that they would need to build these mines, living quarters for mining engineers and a full scale launch pad somehow to be able to deliver dozens of tons of payload from the moon itself (even with it's lower gravity it's still a problem). I mean, China's space program is developing really fast and it's cool, but it would take them decades only to develop necessary technologies. That's why international cooperation is a better way.

[QUOTE=antianan;47025751]That's why international cooperation is a better way.[/QUOTE] International cooperation is a terrible way of going about space business. It slows everything down and makes everything a lot more expensive. Just look at the ISS, case in point. ~150 billion dollars and over 12 years to build because there were so many countries involved that had little experience building space hardware, all for something that was not radically different in technique from Mir, for a scientific output that is frankly questionable (the micro gravity experiments are sort of joke, the point of building the station was to build the station). I also don't see China ever inciting a space race, the gap in aerospace capabilities between the US and China is just too large, not to mention the very exiting developments in commercial space that simply don't exist there. There would be no "race". Anything China could do in the next 30 years could be quickly countered or greatly exceeded by the US if need be.

[QUOTE=Porkychop~;47026353]International cooperation is a terrible way of going about space business. It slows everything down and makes everything a lot more expensive. Just look at the ISS, case in point. ~150 billion dollars and over 12 years to build because there were so many countries involved that had little experience building space hardware, all for something that was not radically different in technique from Mir, for a scientific output that is frankly questionable (the micro gravity experiments are sort of joke, the point of building the station was to build the station).[/QUOTE] The point is that it's not about business yet, since all these projects are mostly in the prototype stage. Prototyping will never benefit you in terms of money, but it requires lots of funding and as much experienced scientists and engineers as possible. Joint international projects will gain much more of these than any national ones. Sure when it will not be a problem to send a rocket or two to the Moon, and building mines there will become a routine task, this international cooperation will be unnecessary, but at this very moment it can greatly accelerate things.

[QUOTE=greendevil;47025238]What movie is this?[/QUOTE] That terrible hg wells time machine remake [editline]28th January 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Porkychop~;47026353]International cooperation is a terrible way of going about space business. It slows everything down and makes everything a lot more expensive. Just look at the ISS, case in point. ~150 billion dollars and over 12 years to build because there were so many countries involved that had little experience building space hardware, all for something that was not radically different in technique from Mir, for a scientific output that is frankly questionable (the micro gravity experiments are sort of joke, the point of building the station was to build the station). I also don't see China ever inciting a space race, the gap in aerospace capabilities between the US and China is just too large, not to mention the very exiting developments in commercial space that simply don't exist there. There would be no "race". Anything China could do in the next 30 years could be quickly countered or greatly exceeded by the US if need be.[/QUOTE] ??? The american section was built by the same Italian company that supplied NASA with space-lab for the shuttle, additionally it was actually built faster than Mir which took 20 years and was only a fraction as complex as the iss. The segments were basically the same aluminum tub which each country then customized with their own special experiments, and of the countries that contributed segments, all of them had experience building their own space hardware, but through cooperation we were able to standardize the payload and that meant that the shuttle could launch any country's module regardless of its sophistication, as long as it fit inside the shuttle's weight limits Idk where you think microgravity experiments are a joke from, micro crystalization experiments have already yielded great breakthroughs in commercial medicines as well as numerous other areas and that's only one field studied up there, literally tons of experiments are conducted up there and we learn amazing things about the structures of molecules, chemistry, physics and biology from the is Cooperation was the only reason why the space station happened, China can barely launch a 15 ton station putting it in featherweight class compared to everybody else, 15 tons is about one module the space shuttle launched each time, we put up over two dozen of them

[QUOTE=Sobek-;47018405]It's only a matter of time now... [img]http://pictures.mastermarf.com/blog/2009/091009-mooncrash.jpg[/img] Jokes aside, how abundant is helium-3 on the moon? Enough to be worth the cost of missions back and forth to acquire it? [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] Seriously? For a start he asked an actual question regarding the topic and, therefore, didn't post just to put his 'epic' reference. There's even a meme in the ban reason. Get off your high horse, if moderators want users to behave more 'maturely' as if Facepunch ever was or ever will be some sort of formal or respectable news site, maybe they should focus on setting a better example first. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Mod Sass, Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

Y[QUOTE=Rufia;47027052]Seriously? For a start he asked an actual question regarding the topic and, therefore, didn't post just to put his 'epic' reference. There's even a meme in the ban reason. Get off your high horse, if moderators want users to behave more 'maturely' as if Facepunch ever was or ever will be some sort of formal or respectable news site, maybe they should focus on setting a better example first.[/QUOTE] BDA used to be just a bad poster, but Garry wanted to torture us, so he promoted him to bad moderator instead. I must say, he is doing a swell job. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Mod Sass, Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

Banning any references to other media when reacting to a news story seems over the top. Some of the posts were funny and fit the story quite well. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing to discuss moderation" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

Oh jesus, all these bans. It's amazing how we're finding alternative resources on another freaking planet.

For God's sake: [url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1089075[/url]

Epic reference. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Pointless Post / Why Reply?" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

A shame this thread got derailed by a mod, but lets try to keep to the subject. Would this actually be cost efficient for China?

What if other countries want to mine it as well. Do they like build borders to their mining sites so the other nations know to look for another place to mine it?

[QUOTE=Tmaxx;47024047]the chinese couldn't even get a rover to work.[/QUOTE] They successfully sent a rocket on a return journey around the moon to test a capsule or some shit like a month ago.

I like the moon.

[QUOTE=Teippiman;47027462]What if other countries want to mine it as well. Do they like build borders to their mining sites so the other nations know to look for another place to mine it?[/QUOTE] until other countries have that capability it's ever ones resources for themselves I suppose.

[QUOTE=Dr.Fragg;47027089]Banning any references to other media when reacting to a news story seems over the top. Some of the posts were funny and fit the story quite well. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing to discuss moderation" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] The thought police have arrived. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

I don't what Helium 3 is or what we would need it for but hearing about people trying to go to space is neato.

[QUOTE=joost1120;47027335]A shame this thread got derailed by a mod, but lets try to keep to the subject. Would this actually be cost efficient for China?[/QUOTE] Thread didn't get derailed by a mod, you dumb motherfuckers bitching about "da thought police" did. For fucks sake is it SO HARD to not shove pop culture references into every post? "There's a correlation between real life and this form of media I know" isn't that funny, homeboy. Y'all need to put some fuckin' effort into your posts. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=WhyNott;47018387]nazis are going to be pretty fucking upset [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfi32QjSNho[/media] [QUOTE=Sobek-;47018405]It's only a matter of time now... [img]http://pictures.mastermarf.com/blog/2009/091009-mooncrash.jpg[/img] Jokes aside, how abundant is helium-3 on the moon? Enough to be worth the cost of missions back and forth to acquire it? [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVTkdwxGMV4[/media] [QUOTE=dwt110;47018515][IMG]http://www.sci-fimovieposters.co.uk/images/posters-m/M-0079_Moon_quad_movie_poster_l.jpg[/IMG] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuB20drdeeY[/media] [QUOTE=Adlertag1940;47018528]Clearly they've being playing EVE & SE too long now. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUv5Q9we_l4[/media] [QUOTE=FlandersNed;47019214]Soon.. [t]http://firstpersonshooters.net/Games/Shattered%20Horizon/images/wallpaper/astronaut_2560x1600.jpg[/t] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXrOoODYPNE[/media] [QUOTE=Ziron;47019309]Deus Ex taught me that this is going to end in tragedy. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqMVXX6VEYw[/media] [QUOTE=Fillmore;47019422]Guess what happens when the rest of the nations follow on China's footsteps. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0nK807k0Fw[/media] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VQhURMLPeQ[/media] [QUOTE=Brobattington;47021064]It'll be the Crackening all over again! [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1xzoOpv8xY[/media] [QUOTE=Rakmon;47024844][t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/RX-78-2_Gundam_illustration.gif[/t] It's happening? [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Rules: "Don't post just to put your epic reference"" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUCQTyBtbcE[/media] [QUOTE=Rufia;47027052]Seriously? For a start he asked an actual question regarding the topic and, therefore, didn't post just to put his 'epic' reference. There's even a meme in the ban reason. Get off your high horse, if moderators want users to behave more 'maturely' as if Facepunch ever was or ever will be some sort of formal or respectable news site, maybe they should focus on setting a better example first. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Mod Sass, Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWH0PVUl3Iw[/media] [QUOTE=BananaFoam;47027081]Y BDA used to be just a bad poster, but Garry wanted to torture us, so he promoted him to bad moderator instead. I must say, he is doing a swell job. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Mod Sass, Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otUcnfiBTLs[/media] [QUOTE=Dr.Fragg;47027089]Banning any references to other media when reacting to a news story seems over the top. Some of the posts were funny and fit the story quite well. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing to discuss moderation" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [QUOTE=davethestoner;47027159]Epic reference. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Pointless Post / Why Reply?" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [QUOTE=ultra_bright;47029170]The thought police have arrived. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Hoboiam;47029553]Thread didn't get derailed by a mod, you dumb motherfuckers bitching about "da thought police" did. For fucks sake is it SO HARD to not shove pop culture references into every post? "There's a correlation between real life and this form of media I know" isn't that funny, homeboy. Y'all need to put some fuckin' effort into your posts. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight][/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTGO4L3tuM[/media] as for me [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_74Q6MgxyFc[/media] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Derailing" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight] [highlight](User was permabanned for this post ("Alt, ban evasion." - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

So, let's say in the semi-distant future, we try and mine the shit out of the moon, because there's not any kind of ecosystem to mess up there like there is on earth. How much mass would we have to mine out of it before it started to have a substantial effect on the tides? Assuming we're pulling loads of metals out, not just helium-3.

[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;47029826]So, let's say in the semi-distant future, we try and mine the shit out of the moon, because there's not any kind of ecosystem to mess up there like there is on earth. How much mass would we have to mine out of it before it started to have a substantial effect on the tides? Assuming we're pulling loads of metals out, not just helium-3.[/QUOTE] I think that'd be nigh impossible. I don't think we'd be able to use that much mass to have a serious dent on tidal forces.

References to film and science fiction in a thread about space? And they didn't even post an essay about how it's relevant? Off-topic! Pointless! Harmful to discussion! Derailing!!! [highlight](User was banned for this post ("this post is not on the topic of mining helium-3 from the moon or the scientific implications surrounding mining nor the future of fusion technology. Please take a short break to consider your choice in posting habits." - dai))[/highlight]