The Poles of the Moon and Their Significance

Paul D. Spudis
Space Dept., Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD

In the past decade, the Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions have conducted global reconnaissance of the Moon. We have discovered unique properties of the polar regions that make them desirable targets for exploration and exploitation. The Moon’s spin axis is perpendicular to the ecliptic plane, resulting in areas of near-permanent sunlight and definite permanent darkness at the poles. The former offers unique sites to inhabit, for such areas provide constant sunlight, enabling continual power generation and a benign thermal environment. The latter act as “cold traps” that may have accumulated water and other volatiles near both poles. Water ice likely is present as finely disseminated bodies, mixed with impact generated rock and debris. The presence of water on the Moon has the potential to completely change the space flight paradigm. Currently, our space probes must be supplied and equipped on Earth and launched complete; this limits the amount of material, and thus capability, of future space probes. In contrast, if we can use the resources of the Moon, specifically the water ice at the poles to make rocket propellant, we forever change the rules of space exploration. Use of lunar generated propellant will create an Earth-Moon transportation infrastructure, with which we can not only access any point in cislunar space, vital to national economic and security interests, but also voyage to the planets beyond.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas