Boeing’s Moon Survival Work Includes
Furnishing Water — From The Rooks!
SEATTLE (Special—Research
ers at The Boeing Company in
Seattle, Wash., are daily producing
water from ordinary rocks in an
attempt to solve the drinking
water problem on the moon.
Lunar expeditions, the research
ers have concluded, will be able
to carry water and oxygen along
for short trips but a longer stay,
requiring large quantities of water
and oxygen, will create a prob
lem. The simplest solution, they
believe, is to devise some means of
extracting both from the materials
at hand. Now Boeing has begun a
study to determine the possibiity
of taking water and oxygen from
materials which could be expected
to be found on the moon.
According to Boeing research
ers, there is considerable evidence
that the moon’s crust is composed
of basaltic rock, similar to that
found in the Seattle area. Some of
that rock is now being used in
experiments to produce water.
Experimental equipment has
been built which heats crushed
rock, reduces it to rubble and in
the process produces about three
per cent of its weight in water.
The heat first evaporates any
surface water in cracks and crev
ices. Then at higher temperatures
the components of the rock begin
to break down and more water,
which has been trapped in the
crystalline structure of the rock,
is released.
A third step is the result of the
fact that rocks are made up large
ly of oxides. They can be decom
posed by passing hydrocarbons
over them at high temperatures.
Water will form when the hydro
gen and oxygen combine as a re
Insurance of All Types
NOME
INSURANCE AGENCY
•
PETE HAHN. Agent
Phone 2498 P.O. Box 392
suit of this reduction.
Even though the experiments
are just beginning it is already
apparent that water in reasonable
quantities can be extracted from
almost any rock, the Boeing re
searchers point out. Oxygen can
be taken from the water with a
simple electrolytic cell in
stallation.
At present the research group
has used Andesitic Basalt, Olivine,
and Zeolite, all from Washington
State.
Temperatures employed in the
experiment have ranged from less
than 300 degrees F. (149 degrees
Centigrade' to more than 1,800 de
grees F. (982 degrees C). The time
involved varies for each experi
ment, but is usually an hour or
two.
Water extraction is done in a
closed, nitrogen-filled system.
Moisture forms in the nitrogen air
and is pumped around to a con
denser, which removes the water
and allows the nitrogen to return
to the beginning of the system.
The Boeing research group be
lieves that the water output can
be increased greatly by pumping
hydrogen into the closed system.
It would combine with the oxy
gen present and produce water.
MENU AND COOKING CUES
Well, tomorrow is another feast
day — Christmas dinner always
features some grand old-time fav
orites, like roast turkey or duck,
and fancy rich desserts like plum
pudding or fruit cake.
Today’s dinner menu sugges
tions features simple foods, and
it’s quick-and-easy: For the main
course, b r o i 1 e d hamburgers,
whipped potatoes, buttered green
beans, and tossed salad. For des
sert, served canned or frozen
fruit, and some crisp cookies if
you have some “extras” on hand.
Fine Job Printing at the Nugget
Arctic Sanitary
Service
CALL 2631
ANYTIME FOR PICKUP
Office Open Daily 4-6 pan.
WHY FREEZE?'.'
WHEN YOU HAVE
Northern Metal Work?
To Solve All Your Heating Problems !
Call Us for Estimates
Phone 2591
e
STRAUB SERVICE CENTER
m
JL JanL
Clft W1 ® f B£&€B *
*
MOONSHINE
WISH
V/e wish you abounding good
fortune, the best of health,
and a season of happiness on
this glad Christmas occasion.
water co.
Christmas
Candles
May your house be bright with the glow of
Christmas candles. May your candles glow
bright and warm throughout the Season...
may the year ahead be filled with wondrous
memories and joy.
POLARIS HOTEL &
MAY BALE
n
COCKTAIL LOUNGE
JAMES KEALIHER