Blue Origin makes a big lunar announcement that shocked SpaceX & Elon Musk

Blue Origin makes a big lunar announcement that shocked SpaceX & Elon Musk
1. HUGE THANKS TO:
2. SOURCE OF THUMBNAIL:

3. SOURCE OF IMAGES AND VIDEOS :
==========
Blue Origin makes a big lunar announcement that shocked SpaceX & Elon Musk
For decades scientists and engineers have talked about using the dusty lunar surface to manufacture solar panels. All of the key ingredients for solar cells are present in this rocky and dusty regolith on the surface of the Moon—silicon, iron, magnesium, aluminum, and more.
The abundance of these ingredients has led to hundreds of research papers exploring this idea since lunar soil was returned to Earth during the Apollo program but relatively little engineering development. In other words, we don't know whether covering the Moon with solar panels is simply a great science fiction idea, or if it would actually work.
But now, we may have an answer to the question. Last week, in a blog post not even promoted by the company's Twitter account or a news release, Blue Origin quietly said its "Blue Alchemist" program has been working on this very topic for the last two years. This sudden announcement shocked its rival, SpaceX, and scientists.
But can Jeff really make this operate in real?
Expose everything about this in today's episode of Alpha Tech:
When Blue Origin's path to putting a rocket into orbit is certainly still a long way off, the company, founded by Jeff Bezos, has made both solar cells and electricity transmission wires from simulated lunar soil—a material that is chemically and mineralogically equivalent to lunar regolith.
The engineering work is based on a process known as "molten regolith electrolysis," and Blue Origin has advanced the state of the art for solar cell manufacturing. In this process, a direct electric current is applied to the simulated regolith at a high temperature, above 1,600° Celsius. Through this electrolysis process, iron, silicon, and aluminum can be extracted from the lunar regolith. Blue Origin says it has produced silicon to more than 99.999 percent purity through molten regolith electrolysis.
Blue Origin makes a big lunar announcement that shocked SpaceX & Elon Musk

[garypeak]

Another BS Click Bait title, which was NEVER supported in the material of the video, ie, how Musk/SpaceX was "shocked". You guys many times have good info; why do feel you have to spoil it with your BS titles??👎

[almsco]

Nothing BO is doing is gonna be a shock for SpaceX, they are so far ahead of BO.

[brucec]

I like the part about needing water. On the moon.

[gijzje]

They can't even engineer a proper rocket to go there

[av_kovko]

Good luck Blue Origin and ULA on WDR and launch Vulcan Centaur. But we wish SpaceX good luck with the launch of Starship

[rickg]

BO has a credibility problem. I don't really believe they can deliver anything until I actually see it used (UAL) or Fly such as New Glenn.

[margarita]

I am from Yakutsk, Russia: The Coldest City in the World

[straighttalk]

Blue origin can't even get theirs up, while SpaceX is planning to go deeper and deeper into out space.

[connecticutaggie]

Has BO obtained any patents on the Blue Alchemist processes?

[mrschuyler]

What shock? Blue Origin can't even get to orbit.

[wab]

How can BEZOS do anything? They have NEVER been to orbit so how are they gonna do anything?

[juliancrooks]

Another sue origin breaking wind while space x breaks records in space.

[madcalm]

The announcement confirmed by nothing. Just the announcement.

[konstantinjirecek]

Useless corporate anouncement like milion other useless corporate anouncements.

[arthurhamilton]

Tbe only thing that SX have to worry about Blue Origin doing is filing malicious patents to try to stop SX.

[charlesfreeman]

This will be good stuff for Musk when he acquires the tech as it becomes relevant to our abilities to utilize for the in situ needs on the lunar surface...

[oneofusall]

Based on remote observations by radar instruments aboard Chandrayaan-1 and LRO, the lunar poles have over 600 billion kilograms of water ice. That's enough to fill at least 240, 000 Olympic-sized swimming pools

[CSGATI]

Is not practical. The cost outweighs the gains. Only half as smart as Elon.

[juliancrooks]

I suggest a bet between Elon and Jeff for a race to land on the moon and return safely to Earth. Winner owns both companies.

[edlibey]

Ok but, what about the 14 day nights? I guess some very big batteries?