"Alex Terrell" wrote in message
oups.com...

Cardman wrote:
On 6 Aug 2005 04:14:16 -0700, "Alex Terrell"
wrote:

I would much prefer to have the base all up and running even before
the first astronaut steps foot on there. They could have a rover do
some required assembly.


Well, that's the approach I've taken he
http://fp.alexterrell.plus.com/web/C...stellation.pdf

On page 14 of 66 you'll see the crew are just the 8th delivery to the
polar base. Once the crew arrive, there's a commitment to regular
supply and support flights.

And the one thing that NASA won't grasp or do in a million years is to
actually keep people there to live and work. Construction seems like
the first priority. Communication, electricity, water (hopefully) and
to pave over the entire area to keep that pesky regolith out.

I've put in water mining and electrolysis, and general base development
initially.

I see a garage as being useful. An unmanned truck is outside working.
Eventually, it pulls into the garage, the door closes, and the air pressure
increases. Somebody comes in and either services the truck or looks at the
rocks it brought back. A tow truck could bring broken trucks or power plant
parts in for repair. This would require a much bigger airlock than NASA has
ever used before.

The garage may end up being the main place where humans do useful work.
Space suits are bulky and I don't think that people will do a lot of useful
work with them on.