Big Vapor

Ceres, the largest planetoid in the asteroid belt, has been observed venting water vapor. A NASA probe named Dawn will make a fly-by next year and hopefully determine the extent of water ice available.

Why is this a big deal? Because abundant water ice translates to fuel, air, and of course water -- the three things which absolutely must be readily available locally if we are ever to exploit the Belt in situ, as opposed to boosting the rocks back to Earth orbit one at a time. It's very possible The Belt will be the lynchpin of future exploitation and settlement of the entire system, and the launching point for any potential interstellar missions. Many sci-fi authors have speculated that the wealth of resources could lead to The Belt becoming an independent and powerful political entity many centuries from now, similar to the manner in which the colonies of America evolved to geopolitical and economic dominance from the 19th to 21st centuries.

But that's all idle speculation and we'll leave it for future generations. For now, the proof that water exists Out There may well combine with ever-advancing private space tech to create a type of "gold rush" mentality. That might actually restore my hope of a bright future for the human race. Maybe.