Official News - page 8

REAL LIFE NEWS: MOON SHOCKS

by Hazed

Scientists have discovered that the moon's surface can accumulate a massive charge of static electricity – up to 4,500 volts has been detected so far. These findings could have significant implications for those planning to colonize our satellite.

This charge builds up on the lunar surface when it is hit by electrically charged particles from the solar wind slamming into the surface. While astronauts would most likely be protected from any discharge by their spacesuits, a spark from the surface could disrupt or even burn out electronic equipment.

The charge could also be responsible for levitating the ultra-fine moon dust. It is so fine it gets into absolutely everything, getting past vacuum seals and clogging equipment.

With no atmosphere, the lunar surface would be a very dangerous place to be during a solar storm, when the solar wind hitting the surface is particularly strong. Astronauts would have to rely on instruments to warm them of a coming storm – but the instruments themselves would be vulnerable to the static build up, so would need the same kind of spark-proof protection as satellites orbiting Earth. Just one more problem facing any colonization project.

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