Lunar landings: Alexandra Witze on protecting the Moon by regulating scientific exploration

Scientists and space explorers face a conundrum: What if upcoming scientific missions to the Moon end up contaminating the very ice researchers are so eager to study? In this January 5, 2021 Nature article, Alexandra Witze explains how experts are determining ways to balance their scientific goals with their responsibility to act as stewards of the Moon for future generations.

Alexandra Witze, "Will Increasing Traffic to the Moon Contaminate Its Precious Ice?" Nature, 5 January 2021

 

1. Why is lunar ice so valuable for scientists? What can researchers learn about the Moon and the Earth by studying samples of lunar ice?
   
2. One solution Witze explains is to have an “origins-first” mission, where lunar explorers would first collect “relatively pristine” ice samples before larger, more disruptive scientific research missions arrive at the Moon. What are the benefits to this “origins-first” mission? What are the barriers to doing this kind of mission? Do you agree, disagree, or both to the argument for an “origins-first” mission? Respond using a template from Chapter 4.
3. In her article, Witze brings together several perspectives to explore the complex debate about how to organize and prioritize lunar research missions. What agencies, organizations, and perspectives are represented in this academic conversation? Yet Witze also suggests that how the Moon is used and explored has implications beyond scientific research. What other voices do you think could have been included in this conversation to demonstrate her point? Why?
4. Witze points out that Moon has already been contaminated by humans. How has this happened? The goal of preventing contamination and maintaining a “pristine” Moon echoes debates about environmental conservation on Earth. Some argue that wilderness should remain untouched by humans; others contend that this is impossible because nature is inextricably intertwined with human presence. Look at this 2020 report, which shows the extent to which the Earth has been modified by humans. What do these maps convey about the impact of humans on the Earth? Do you think we deserve a chance at the Moon when we consider how we’ve changed the planet? How do you think the balancing act between conserving nature and providing for human needs on Earth should be applied to lunar exploration? Should we keep the Moon pristine? Why or why not?

Comments

[john smith]

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[Justin Scrempos]

1.Lunar ice is so valuable for scientists because some want to analyze pristine samples to unlock clues to how and when Earth and the Moon accumulated water billions of years ago. Others want to mine the ice as fuel for rockets at future lunar bases. Researchers can learn how and when Earth and the Moon accumulated water billions of years ago by studying samples of lunar ice.

2.The benefits are to watch what human material is brought to contain contamination on the moon and gases from the rockets. The barriers to do this kind of mission are to keep from contaminating the moon with resources we generally use on space missions. I both agree and disagree because I'm not sure how I feel about both sides, doing this kind of mission would help the moon yet it could possibly be dangerous for the space travelers.

3.NASA, 19 scientists, including Prem and Deutsch, COSPAR, NASEM and, ESA. I feel like more input from other NASA scientists and also astronauts would help give more information and on how to go about the "orgins-first missions" for example to demonstrate her point.

4.This has happened by astronauts bring human materials to the moon, contaminating it with gases from their rockets or even from the drills they used on the moon. These maps convey that we have been slowly increasing the decline of the Earths resources and are slowly "killing" it. I feel that with how we have treated earth so far in our existence that we don't deserve a chance at the moon. The balancing act between conserving nature and providing for human needs on Earth should be applied to lunar exploration by doing what's best for the planets but in a safe manner for us. I feel that we should take caution into doing these missions on the moon, we can't stay somewhere, where we have already hurt it like we have Earth.

[John Zhou]

Reading through Witze article on scientific expedition to the moon, I agree with her point about the moon being contaminated and the debate of should it be contaminated further. Scientist worry about this because of the fear of contaminating the lunar ice which will hinder their ability to study it. Science is vital to us as human, but we need to examine ourself first. The moon is a celestial beauty that deserves discovery that can greatly change human society, but we need to realize that the moon is a blessing that we shouldn't take for granted. We have already taken the earth for granted and destroyed many aspect that the earth has given. The artic circle and Antarctica was once unknown, but it was the quest for science that we found potential in studying this hostile area. Yet in our quest, we are slowly destroying this world through exploitation of hidden resource and contamination all in the name of science. The moon deserves to be explored and discovered, but we must first look within ourselves as human on how we treat our earth before turning our eyes to the galaxy. Because if we cannot value our own home, then we do not deserve the moon.

[Ethan]

1) The ice is useful because it could reveal the secrets of how the world was formed, or it could be used as rocket fuel.
2) Researchers could learn whether or not the journeys could affect the samples by a large amount. The barriers include funding and possibly contaminating samples even more. I am for it, as it decreases the risk of future journeys contaminating the ice.
3) Nasa, Cospar, Nasem, and ESA. Witze could have used information from other space-related organizations, because they are in similar fields.
4) Contamination occurred due to all of the moon landings that took place. Humans have had quite a large impact on the Earth, and increase the risk of using all of its resources.

[Michael]

I definitely agree that we should first extract as much science as possible before we try and delve into the economic possibilities. Opportunities for economic endeavors will not go away by contaminating the ice on the moon, but scientific endeavors will. It will take more time and patience, but we have barely scratched the surface of space exploration and our knowledge revolving around it, so we should take every opportunity for knowledge we can.

[Hilda]

1. The lunar ice is valuable to scientists because they want to analyze pristine samples to see if they can unlock any sort of clues on how and when the Earth and Moon collected so much water years ago. Another reason is that scientists want to see if the ice can be used as fuel for rockets at future lunar bases.
2. The benefits of doing the "Origin-first" mission would be that scientists are more informed about their decisions and how to have a better understanding of the ice. A barrier would be the funding for the mission and also the amount of time it will take for the mission to be completed. I Agree with the scientist that there should be some sort of mission to analyze the ice more just so they can make sure it is safe for future travels.
3.NASA, Cospar, Nasem, and ESA. Witze could use information from other space organizations so that Witze has bigger supporting examples/knowledge and also so they can make a stronger argument of the "Origin-first" mission.
4. Humans have already caused harm to the moon because of all the space landings, which cause a lot of carbonation. Besides that, they also bring resources from earth to the moon such as robots and much more. This would keep happening if space travel continues and more harmful resources are being used.

[Liam]

Scientists want to study the important ice to try and find out how long ago both the moon and the earth acquired water. Finding out how and when this happened can teach us things about the earth that scientists have been questioning for decades. The article mentions how harvesting the lunar ice could be used as rocket fuel. There is a current debate about whether the ice should be used as fuel or as research. Right now, scientists can predict that the water from the moon could have come from asteroids, comets, solar wind, and even volcanic eruptions. A rocket on the moon can sometimes release water which unfortunately stays on the moon's surface, contaminating the original history of the ice. I agree with NASA and their plan to pick up samples of our magnificent ice before even more rockets show up and cause more contamination. It is so important to get these samples before it's too late to do so. Currently, we are at a time when it's not a dire need to convert lunar ice into fuel. This process can wait for however long but the samples need to be collected now. We know nothing about this ice. Can it be consumed? Is it harmful to the touch? Further understanding the lunar ice could prevent injuries or maybe it will be useful for something much more efficient. Researchers have been trying to devise a plan to navigate how to access the ice carefully. This shows how the littlest things can contaminate the ice and impact the knowledge we learn from it.