Wet Cabeus

Last year, NASA slammed the LCROSS probe into the lunar crater Cabeus in an attempt to discover whether water ice existed on its permanently shadowed floor. Well, they found it. In fact, a new study indicates the floor of Cabeus is wetter than the Sahara Desert-- a totally unbelievable situation only a few years ago. Further, the study finds that water is not the only surprise. Elements ranging from simple hydrogen to ammonia, calcium, carbon, methane, magnesium, and even silver has been found inside the crater.

Scientists believe much of that material was delivered to the Moon by comet impacts and found its way across the surface into the cold trap of Cabeus, where it has been preserved. Because sunlight never reaches its floor, the crater is among the coldest places in the entire Solar System.

Scientists also point out that Cabeus is likely not the only place on the Moon to house such goodies. Other craters around both the north and south poles could offer similarly advantageous niche environments. The case for colonizing the Moon, therefore, has been strengthened again. Given the developing political, fiscal, and technological situations on Earth, an intrigung question is who will be first to tap lunar resources to establish a branch of human civilization on another world-- governments, or the private sector?