Re: One Small Step


Monte Davis wrote:

> "Alex Terrell" <alexterrell@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >A chemical plant is mostly fairly simple,
> >and partly very complicated.
>
> One useful first-cut distinction is that between processing
> gases/liquids and processing inhomogeneous solids, where mechanical
> engineering issues loom much larger. I've been watching ideas for use
> of _in situ_ resources since the 1970s space manufacturing
> conferences, and have often run them by acquaintances who work in
> mining, refining and process engineering.
>
> Talk to them about Zubrin's scheme for automated processing of Martian
> atmosphere, or even (farther along) "scooping" from gas giants, and
> they say "maybe" (with caveats about how reliable valves, compressors,
> etc, would have to be).
>
> Talk to them about handling kilotons of lunar regolith per month with
> robots, telepresence, or a small handful of astronauts (who presumably
> have a lot else to attend to)... using equipment that fits within
> near-term mass constraints of lunar landing... and they laugh out
> loud. With all due respect, Alex, have you ever actually witnessed the
> start-up of a mine, cement plant, brick factory or the like?

No. One of the fun things about writing documents like this is the
opportunity to read up on things, and revise my Chemistry A level, but
it doesn't afford a trip to say an aluminium works (I did once do a job
fixing electric rolling machines with MW motors) .

That said, the plant construction is a Phase 3 activity, for use in
Phase 4, where the lunar base has a crew of 192. A large proportion of
the non-overhead staff would be employed on the chemical plant - a bit
more than a small handful. Add in tele-support from Earth and
productivity is not too out of line with Earth based plants. (at least
in high labour cost areas like Switzerland). Earth based plants have to
put up with water, oxygen in awkward places, a high level of gravity;
though admitedly they don't have to worry about things like vacuum and
massive temperature changes.

Phase 3 is also not near term (you'll see for near term I'm looking at
small amounts of iron and brick only).

.

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