Earth's water new origin

It has been commonly believed by many that Earth's water origin came from asteroids or comets. But research has shown that the Earth may have absorbed more than what we know after the impact that hit the young Earth than also formed the moon. It is believed that the Earth at that time had absorbed easily vaporized materials known as volatiles, including water and other minerals. As the moon began to form and spun, it spurned the remaining materials back into the Earth. Thus why the idea that the moon does not have any water because it was sent back to Earth.

Scientists hypothesized that when Earth was collided with a mars-sized object named Theia, it was that moment that created our moon. As such that is why we can explain that rocks on the moon are similar to those found on Earth. Same composition, but missing one thing, volatiles, which are things such as water, zinc, sodium, and potassium. The current theory is that during the collision, most of these materials were vaporized due to the immense heat and the volatiles escaped out of the system. However it is argued that the amount of material that escape would be very little due to Earth's gravity and thus be stuck around in orbit. And thus that as both of the planets are forming, they would be sharing the materials. But the problem is that the moon is constantly moving away at a rate of 4cm per year, and thus eventually be unable to accrete the materials, and thus they fall back onto the Earth.

So in the end, a new hypothosized theory of how water was formed on Earth is that it was not carried by an asteroid or comet. But rather when the collision with Theia occured, the materials within Earth was flung out, creating the moon as well as redepositing the materials back onto Earth's surface after the moon was slowly moving out of Earth's gravity field.

Sources : http://www.space.com/31115-earth-stole-moon-water.html
Sources for Theia : http://www.space.com/29047-how-moon-formed-earth-collision-theory.html

Planetary Resources

November 10, 2015, marked the day that the US congress recognizes the Asteroid Resource Property Right. The US congress has recognized H.R. 2262, which approves of the right that U.S. citizen could own asteroid resources that they obtained and to encourages the active exploration and recovery of resources from asteroid. Somewhat equivalent to the Homestead act of 1862, which was to allow the exploration to find gold and timber, H.R. 2262 allows people to use asteroids as a new growth to the economy.

Asteroids that hit earth generally contains rare minerals and common composition. Most of the asteroids that hit the Earth composes of 3 types. C-Type, S-Type, and M-Type.

C-Type are carbonaceous and very common, with a small trace of metal, they often tend to contain water which is then used in rocket fuel. Normally a darker color, they tend to blend into our Earth, making it a good estimation that there are several around.

S-Type are stony asteroids, primarily composed of magnesium - silicate, and less common than C-types. S-types are bright in color, making them easier to identify and their silicate component can be used in space building and radiation coverings.

M-Types/X-Types are metal asteroids, and are fairly uncommon, but their composed of primarily metals, containing a large quantity of nickel and iron.

Sources : http://www.planetaryresources.com/asteroids/composition/
http://www.planetaryresources.com/2015/11/planetary-resources-applauds-u-s-congress-in-recognizing-asteroid-resource-property-rights/

Nasa flies by Enceladus

On October 28th, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has begun transmitting  the latest images of Saturn's icy moon. Passing about 30 kilometers above the moon, the craft will be transmitting its data for several days. Researchers had begun studying the data that was collected from the Cassini's dust & gas detector instruments. While the analysis will take several weeks, scientist hope to be able to deduce what hydro-thermal activity is occurring, and what composition the ocean is like.

On December 19th, Cassini will be making its final flyby at the closest it could be at approximately 5000 km.


Source : http://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/saturns-geyser-moon-shines-in-close-flyby-views