4 ms·

Why shouldn't the moon be mined for resources?

artursapek 14y ago
This reminds me of an interview I heard on the radio 6 or 7 years ago with someone involved in a project to design & build a small set of robots that can self-replicate using the materials they get from breaking down moon rocks. The plan was to leave them on the moon for a decade, and bring them all back to serve as agricultural helpers on Earth. A caller into the station complained that it would eat up the moon, to which the scientist speaking chuckled and said it would only take a hair off the surface of the moon given how massive it is. I realize this is barely related, just an interesting memory :) I can't remember who or what company that was, but I'm pretty sure it was a private one. Does anyone recognize this? I don't think it ever saw any sort of fruition.
- TeMPOraL 14y ago
  > A caller into the station complained that it would eat up the moon, to which the scientist speaking chuckled and said it would only take a hair off the surface of the moon given how massive it is. Well, if each of them would replicate on average into two or more new robots, then yes, they probably could eat Moon very quickly. Exponential growth is a pain :).
  - geon 14y ago
    Nine women can't make a baby in one month. The robots would still be limited by the surface area of the moon. Also, the moon would not disappear. In the end, there would be an entire moon, made out of robots.
    - artursapek 14y ago
      Great thought.
loceng 14y ago
The moon creates our waves and wind of Earth. I don't really know how much pulling resources from the moon could affect the moon itself, or the moon's effect on Earth - though I'd rather not try and find out.
- rbanffy 14y ago
  We would have to mine the moon for billions of years to even make a measurable change in its mass. There is very little risk we'll even get near that. And you don't know, but other people do. You have no say on what they will try. Believe it when we tell you (and people less kind than me will eventually do so) your lack of knowledge and unwillingness to learn is far more dangerous than reducing the mass of the moon.
  - loceng 14y ago
    It really wouldn't take billions of years - though we won't know for sure with both of us throwing in assumptions, nor knowing how economics and mining for resources will impact the variables. You're completely wrong that I, or you, have no say in what they will try. I can voice my thoughts, just as you can. Not sure why you feel so disempowered about your voice to project on me that I'd have no say. Same goes for your assumption about unwillingness to learn? How do people learn? A person makes statements, create discussion. We learn from eachother.

This reminds me of an interview I heard on the radio 6 or 7 years ago with someone involved in a project to design & build a small set of robots that can self-replicate using the materials they get from breaking down moon rocks. The plan was to leave them on the moon for a decade, and bring them all back to serve as agricultural helpers on Earth. A caller into the station complained that it would eat up the moon, to which the scientist speaking chuckled and said it would only take a hair off the surface of the moon given how massive it is. I realize this is barely related, just an interesting memory :) I can't remember who or what company that was, but I'm pretty sure it was a private one. Does anyone recognize this? I don't think it ever saw any sort of fruition.

TeMPOraL 14y ago
> A caller into the station complained that it would eat up the moon, to which the scientist speaking chuckled and said it would only take a hair off the surface of the moon given how massive it is. Well, if each of them would replicate on average into two or more new robots, then yes, they probably could eat Moon very quickly. Exponential growth is a pain :).
- geon 14y ago
  Nine women can't make a baby in one month. The robots would still be limited by the surface area of the moon. Also, the moon would not disappear. In the end, there would be an entire moon, made out of robots.
  - artursapek 14y ago
    Great thought.

loceng 14y ago

The moon creates our waves and wind of Earth. I don't really know how much pulling resources from the moon could affect the moon itself, or the moon's effect on Earth - though I'd rather not try and find out.

rbanffy 14y ago
We would have to mine the moon for billions of years to even make a measurable change in its mass. There is very little risk we'll even get near that. And you don't know, but other people do. You have no say on what they will try. Believe it when we tell you (and people less kind than me will eventually do so) your lack of knowledge and unwillingness to learn is far more dangerous than reducing the mass of the moon.
- loceng 14y ago
  It really wouldn't take billions of years - though we won't know for sure with both of us throwing in assumptions, nor knowing how economics and mining for resources will impact the variables. You're completely wrong that I, or you, have no say in what they will try. I can voice my thoughts, just as you can. Not sure why you feel so disempowered about your voice to project on me that I'd have no say. Same goes for your assumption about unwillingness to learn? How do people learn? A person makes statements, create discussion. We learn from eachother.