Commands and data will be transmitted directly between the spacecraft and Earth without the assistance of an onboard computer. The scientific instruments could determine whether the moon is still geologically active, whether it has a dense core, whether it contains potentially valuable reserves of fusion fuel or metals - and most provocatively, whether the moon's polar craters harbor water ice. That was the conclusion drawn on the basis of data from the Clementine spacecraft sent to the moon by the Defense Department in 1994. But the presence of water was inferred only indirectly on the basis of radar echoes. Lunar Prospector's spectrometers could settle the question by looking in the polar regions for an excess of hydrogen -which would indicate the presence of ice.
Scientists say any ice on the moon probably came from comets falling into deep craters at the poles.
Since such craters are perpetually in shadow, the ice would be protected from the sun's rays. Lunar Prospector may also help determine whether the stream of charged solar particles hitting the moon has deposited significant amounts of helium-3, which many scientists believe could fuel controlled fusion reactors in the future. At the end of its mission, Lunar Prospector will crash to the moon's surface. European and Japanese officials already are considering lunar operations that could eventually lead to lunar factories or observatories. We enjoyed the Exhibition very much, the Ministry of education has expressed their appreciation for all the hard work that went into the preparation of the Space program, as did the President of Estonia, as was also evident from the good reports received on the radio, Newspapers and Television.