Good job by Jon Goff to recognize that Lunar outgassing events suggest viable gas deposits that may be able to be accessed to benefit exploration and settlement of the Moon. They also play into my Old West theme for the Moon. Before the outgassing was noticed, I commissioned some artists to draw a picture of an old-fashioned oil derrick on the Moon. Alas, the art is not ready. I did mention here that rock bursts on Earth that plague mines that drill deep indicate to me that the pressure of the rock on the Moon could also cause gas to be trapped there that could be tapped.

Also see David Powell's article on Space.com entitled (by his anonymous editor hopefully) "Lunar Flash Mystery Solved: Moon Just Passing Gas".

If lunar outgassing is a source of CO, CO₂ or H₂O, this could prove useful to future lunar colonies, supplying drinking water and fuel for example and saving billions of dollars in transportation costs.

I think the glib title created a laugh test for any future exploitation of the gas.

Sam, you might want to throw some caveats in there. The papers I discuss *suggest*, but don't *prove* that there are economically useful gas resources on the moon. There's a decent chance it could work out that way, but it could also be deposits of less useful gasses (Argon and Helium), or it could be something else entirely. The interesting thing is the potential. I think that the more we study the moon, the more interesting of a place it will become.

And we still need to solve that affordable lunar access problem.... :-)

But thanks for the review of my review!

~Jon

Sam, first, I have a final comment in the Max Population Predicted story. It's evidence that seems to support your assertion.

Going on subject, I think any gas, even argon and helium will have considerable value on the Moon. Argon will be useful for many of the same things as it is used for on Earth. If you need a non-reactive atmosphere (for industrial processes that need non-vacuum and contain reactive elements like titanium). Helium has a natural role in cooling things to near zero Kelvin. If you have space telescopes and other research equipment on the Moon, you'll have a market for liquid helium. So the presence of outgassing from the Moon is promising especially if it results in accumulation of volatiles at or near the surface.

Looking at this, I imagine that this resource will be rather quickly exhausted once serious effort is devoted to it. But this is similar to the history of the US West. Resources get exhausted so people move on to the next resource. It might be a great way to start major industrial activity on the Moon.

There are so many good one liners about out "gassing" and the "moon", I'm giddy.

Lunar drilling is pretty good too though for starters.

Yeah Steve, I bet some folks would pay good money to experience drilling in 1/6 G.
;)

Cecil,
I wonder if Hef will sell us the rights for the Playboy Mansion on the moon?