water water everywhere

[tankie]

Implications are immense for future human space exploration


http://links.govdelivery.com/track?t...nderground_sea

[tantalus]

Implications are immense for future human space exploration


http://links.govdelivery.com/track?t...nderground_sea

cool stuff, but what is the major significance for space exploration?

[kato]

Enceladus is generally considered the most likely place in the solar system outside Earth to bear life, that's why there's all that hype.

Regarding exploration, medium-term (in 20-30 years) i could see a probe sent specifically to measure thickness and exact composition of the ice crust, followed long-term (very long-term) by a drilling lander...

unless Ceres becomes more interesting when it and its similar vapour plumes are visited by Dawn next year ;)

[tankie]

cool stuff, but what is the major significance for space exploration?

Water being the mainstay of life , is needed wherever humans travel to .It not only sustains life but who knows , maybe a new fuel ? put another way mate , without it , we wouldnt be having this conversation and after humankind has finished raping / pillaging / plundering this planet , the next one humans live on will need ,,,,,,water , etc

[dave lukins]

raping / pillaging / plundering this planet

The Vikings have a lot to answer for. Worse than Japanese whalers

[Monash]

The Vikings have a lot to answer for. Worse than Japanese whalers

Hey if we could prove there were whales on Enceladus the Japanese would fund the space program to get there! (What with them now being banned from whaling in the south polar seas and all.)

[Doktor]

Going by that logic we can also say there is oil, too.

[Monash]

Logic??? :whome:

[tankie]

Hey if we could prove there were whales on Enceladus the Japanese would fund the space program to get there! (What with them now being banned from whaling in the south polar seas and all.)

They are too late for this place , all thats left is ,,sand dunes ?

http://links.govdelivery.com/track?t..._Titan_s_dunes

[SteveDaPirate]

cool stuff, but what is the major significance for space exploration?

Finding water on another solar body is a big deal for space exploration for a number of reasons. Besides the possibility of finding alien life, water has a number of uses to the space explorer. Water is very heavy, and not having to carry as much with you will help launch weights immensely. In addition to the usual functions you might associate with water such as drinking and washing, it has a number of uses for manned space exploration. Water can be broken into its constituent components of oxygen and hydrogen via the electrolysis process. This can provide oxygen for creating a breathable atmosphere for the astronauts.

Water can also act as a great source of fuel for both rocket engines, and for fuel cells that generate electric power. In combination with an oxidizer such as liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen yields the highest specific impulse, or efficiency in relation to the amount of propellant consumed, of any known rocket propellant. The combination of hydrogen and oxygen can also be used in fuel cells to provide a source of electricity when solar power is unavailable.

[tankie]

/\

thats what I meant

[kato]

Water also acts as a rather good, easily manipulated barrier against radiation, which is important in particular in the Jovian and Saturnian gas planet systems.

[tantalus]

Finding water on another solar body is a big deal for space exploration for a number of reasons. Besides the possibility of finding alien life, water has a number of uses to the space explorer. Water is very heavy, and not having to carry as much with you will help launch weights immensely. In addition to the usual functions you might associate with water such as drinking and washing, it has a number of uses for manned space exploration. Water can be broken into its constituent components of oxygen and hydrogen via the electrolysis process. This can provide oxygen for creating a breathable atmosphere for the astronauts.

Water can also act as a great source of fuel for both rocket engines, and for fuel cells that generate electric power. In combination with an oxidizer such as liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen yields the highest specific impulse, or efficiency in relation to the amount of propellant consumed, of any known rocket propellant. The combination of hydrogen and oxygen can also be used in fuel cells to provide a source of electricity when solar power is unavailable.

Accessing water on a large planetary body is an unnecessary strain. Water can be more easily accessed via asteroids, their gravitational field is far weaker so we can simply land on them, attain the water and drift off, far more complicated to land on a moon and get back off again, unless the water can be extracted during a flight through the atmosphere, maybe that will be feasible.

Regarding life, seems a long shot that far out, but who knows, water certainly helps, the only example we have depends on it.

[tantalus]

Enceladus is generally considered the most likely place in the solar system outside Earth to bear life, that's why there's all that hype.

I didnt know that, although perhaps mars is the best chance of somewhere that once did have life, i would settle for evidence of life having previously existed :)

[SteveDaPirate]

Accessing water on a large planetary body is an unnecessary strain. Water can be more easily accessed via asteroids, their gravitational field is far weaker so we can simply land on them, attain the water and drift off, far more complicated to land on a moon and get back off again, unless the water can be extracted during a flight through the atmosphere, maybe that will be feasible.

Regarding life, seems a long shot that far out, but who knows, water certainly helps, the only example we have depends on it.

I was thinking along the context of a manned mission that intends to land upon or establish an outpost on a celestial object. If you only intend to fly past and take pictures, why send a man at all?