Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: bobdihi on 28/05/2018 16:46:20
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What are the advantages of low gravity environment like a Moon's?
Imagine how much cheaper the construction costs will be. We can build with less strong materials, we can build higher,
we can use smaller motors to lift things like elevators( saving energy ).
Anything I have left out?
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The costs of construction would be much greater since you're working in a vacuum and the environment is incredibly hazardous. The temperatures of the moon's surface varies between -298F at night, to 224F during the day. The costs of construction aren't so expensive because of the weight. Its the labor and materials that's expensive. And you have to build with materials that can seal quickly if and when hit by a meteorite and strong enough to hold the air inside from the vacuum outside. Then you have to supply oxygen for the workers never mind getting there.
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It would be far more sensible to build underground in caves, that might be present, on the moon. You don't need to fortify those against impacts.
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Is it easier to build habitation in a Low Gravity Environment?
It requires radically new techniques.
As some of the early astronauts discovered, in a zero-gravity environment:
- You can't just "walk over there", even when "over there" is only 4 meters away. You need hand-holds.
- Dropping tools or bolts is not an option. Instead of bending down and picking them up, they are effectively gone forever.
- You can't just "Do up a screw". Instead of turning the screw, you turn the astronaut.
On the other hand, a single person can move a multi-ton object (if they are patient). Unfortunately, a multi-ton object can also develop an imperceptibly low velocity in any direction, and crush you.
In a low-gravity environment (eg the Moon, 1/6 Earth gravity), the problems are part-way between Earth and Zero-gravity.
a Low Gravity Environment
Most of the problem is getting there.
It takes something like $10,000 (and months of planning) to get 1 pound of matter into Low Earth Orbit.
And far more to get it to some place you would call "Low Gravity".
You can't just drop down to the local hardware store if you strip the thread on a screw.