Re: What makes an ideal Moon base?

From: Mike Flugennock (7lv43nn0c5_at_stinkers.org)
Date: 09/26/04 

Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 01:02:45 -0400

In article <1096152922.329718@haldjas.folklore.ee>, Sander Vesik
<sander@haldjas.folklore.ee> wrote:

> In sci.space.policy Alex Terrell <alexterrell@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Sander Vesik <sander@haldjas.folklore.ee> wrote in message
news:<1095973053.673781@haldjas.folklore.ee>...
> > > In sci.space.policy Alex Terrell <alexterrell@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > WHERE should the lunar base be? The ideal location would be an
> > > > equatorial lava tube with water ice deposits. Failing that, a polar
> > > > base, near ice and almost permanent sun would be best.
> > >
> > > No. It depends on whatthe base is meant to do. A base designed for 6
> > > can stil do a lot - a Moon base does not have to be a megalomaniac
> > > undertaking.

Seriously; why is it always Dr. Evil and that "Moonraker" guy who get to
have all the fun? They get bases on the Moon tended by sleek, leggy babes;
the rest of us get squat.

> >
> > True - I think of a base a substantial affair, or as a prelude to
> > such. But even 6 people for 6 months should focus their efforts on the
> > most likely location for such a base. For example,
> > http://adsabs.harvard.edu//full/conf/lbsa./1985//0000163.000.html
> > identifies optimum site for a catapult. That makes this area a likely
> > place to explore, along with the poles, and areas with lava tubes.
>
> But thats covered with the misison. to an extent. smaller, near-diusposable
> lunar bases are more interesting than a single monolithic one...

Either that, or "reusable" bases with periodic crew/supply exchanges. I
think this is where your LM Taxi/LM Truck/LASS or LESA combo may come in
handy.

What worries me though, with this, is just how the hell you'd deal with
the spent descent and stages that would start littering the immediate
area, perhaps to the point of causing skanky data on certain LEO or
LLO-based science instruments. They'd have to come up with some really
novel ways to break down and get rid of/reuse their junk. Bases for large
antennas, telescopes or solar-wind experiments? Christmas tree stands?

Apollo LESA: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/leselter.htm
Apollo LASS: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/apoolass.htm
"LM Taxi": http://www.astronautix.com/craft/apomtaxi.htm
"LM Truck": http://www.astronautix.com/craft/apotruck.htm 

-- 
"All over, people changing their votes,
 along with their overcoats;
 if Adolf Hitler flew in today,
 they'd send a limousine anyway!"              --the clash.
___________________________________________________________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Mike Flugennock's Mikey'zine, dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

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