Do you know about this? Its a plan to mine the moon for the isotope called Helium 3. Its seems so far fetched, but then I have to remind myself that we are almost 8 years into the 21st century. A time when people predicted we would all be flying around in spaceships, living in near orbit.But it still comes as a surprise. We are going to mine the moon. Its not even a case of if, just a case of how and when. Which brings me to this. I thought it was cool when I read that Google was to offer a $30 million prize for the first rover on the moon before 2012. But then a friend told me about this. It seems there is a shed load of the isotope on our lunar neighbour. I don't believe it, but rumour has it that 1 shuttle payload could power the USA for a year.
Oh, yes, sorry I jumped forward a bit, this is all related to the successful development of a nuclear fission reactor. I'm sure you have read about that, they started building it in the south of France, two years ago. Its an international research project by ITER. It hasn't been achieved yet but the plan is to burn the good stuff in the reactor at a temperature hotter than our sun. So now, the pieces of the puzzle are all starting to fit.
One of the biggest nuclear research projects for a new fuel for the planet, the abundant moon, and Google, just to incentivise the space race. Perfect.
When will they be putting their logo on the side of NASA's space ships do you think? Oh, no sorry, I think that's Pizza Hut's idea.
Welcome to the 21st century I say.
