CSB #3 Comet Hartley 2 is Spewing Ice

Definitions

• Comet: a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
• NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Their self-described mission is to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.

Summary
Hartley 2, a peanut shaped comet, is spewing out tons of fluffy ice chunks every second since the Deep Space spacecraft flew by it. The most fascinating thing about this comet is that the ice and water chunks were not being lifted off by the force of water vapor, but rather by jets of carbon dioxide. This is the first time that carbon dioxide has been observed doing this. Also, because water stays frozen longer than dry ice, the carbon dioxide blows it off while it is still solid. Although there were bright specks in the images, the spacecraft did not suffer any damage when it flew through the storm at 27,000 miles an hour. The scientist from NASA believe, from the absorption of the light, the chunks were more like a dandelion puff with air in the middle and can be easily broken. The carbon dioxide that is frozen would have to be very old to be frozen in the comet. This has never been found in a previous case with comets.
Discussion
I find this interesting that this has never been found in another comet. This may help us in finding water on other planets. I find it interesting how the carbon dioxide will push off the ice and water chunks.
Questions

• Could we harvest these comets as a water source?
• Could this help us find water on other planets?

Citations

Chang, Kenneth. "Surprise at a Comet Visited by NASA: A Snowstorm." The New York 
     Times: n. pag. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/
     science/space/19comet.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss>.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/science/space/19comet.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss