MANUFACTURING Originally written: August 3, 2005. Previous | Overview | Next Bulk manufacturing on Luna will need to be done by automated or remote-controlled machines. Humans-in-spacesuits is too costly, as are pressurized, breathable environments. To control for temperature and dust, factories probably should also be … Continue reading
LOCAL RESOURCING: Originally written: 8 August 2005. Previous | Overview | Next A solar oven seems the obvious way to melt and separate Lunar ore. Beyond the initial Earth-built small equipment, Luna-built reflectors seem easy to manufacture, so at least that part of the system … Continue reading
MINING Originally written: 8 August 2005. Previous | Overview | Next Mainly this will include electric-powered, remote-controlled diggers and conveyor trucks or belts. The first target for mining is to grade a level path for the maglev launcher track. This means that the mined material … Continue reading
ENERGY COLLECTION, GENERATION, STORAGE Originally written: 8 August 2005. Previous | Overview | Next Initial: Earth-built photovoltaic panels, batteries, fuel-cell/electrolysis pairs. Secondary: Luna-built photovoltaic arrays, parabolic solar ovens for manufacturing, possibly thermoelectric. Massive, solar-powered compulsators; alternators capable of delivering massive pulses of electricity. PV ARRAYS At … Continue reading
GRAVITY-HABITAT; the ‘GRAVITAT’ Originally written: 8 August 2005. Previous | Overview | Next Luna’s gravity is too low for humans to maintain long-term health. Therefore, like long-term residents of microgravity environments, lunar settlers will need to live in ‘gravitats’ where gravity is simulated by spin … Continue reading
Originally written: 3 August 2005. A. From 2006 to permanent, productive lunar base The good news from this spring was NASA’s decision to replace the space shuttle with separate, simple-configuration heavy-lift and crew-lift vehicles, Ares I and Ares V. This … Continue reading
Next Steps in Using Near-Earth Space and Luna First written: August 3, 2005 This is the fist in a set of conceptual essays to design a permanent, self-supporting, productive Lunar base. As I thought it through, I have been realizing … Continue reading