|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Mining the moon for rocket fuel to get us to Mars
First, this isn't my "subject", it's the title of this article:
Mining the moon for rocket fuel to get us to Mars May 14, 2017 8.04pm EDT ?Updated May 18, 2017 9.01am EDT http://theconversation.com/mining-th...-to-get-us-to- mars-76123 I saw this article (or a variation of it from another online publication) on Twitter. I replied something to the effect that this article glosses over all of the hard stuff, like the fact that the lunar soil and rock is horribly abrasive and that mining equipment isn't anything like the lightweight rovers that NASA/JPL has flown in the past. For crying out loud, JPL keeps using ALUMINUM for the rover wheels to keep them light, even though they're wearing holes in the things after less than 100 miles. Mining equipment can't be that weak! Anyway, I replied that mining equipment is *really heavy* because it's made of steel and hardened steel. The response by one Twitter follower was along the lines of, "That's why the mining equipment will be built on the moon from local materials". At that point, "I couldn't even". I mean WTF? So, to build mining equipment on the moon, you're going to build an entire freaking factory, from local materials?!?!? So, WTF are you going to use to mine the materials to build the factory?!?!?!? Don't get me wrong, I think *eventually* we'll be mining the moon for water to turn into LOX and LH2 (or possibly methane) to supply a fuel depot in lunar orbit. But, needless to say, I think the supporters of this notion are daft if they think it's going to happen in the next 20 years or so by building a freaking factory on the moon that's capable of building mining equipment that's not JPL class "toys" that wear out faster than you can build them. Jeff -- All opinions posted by me on Usenet News are mine, and mine alone. These posts do not reflect the opinions of my family, friends, employer, or any organization that I am a member of. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Starship Fuel from the Outer System [Gas mining operation onUranus] | Dbdblocker | Astronomy Misc | 0 | June 3rd 11 09:57 PM |
least polluting rocket fuel | [email protected] | Technology | 22 | February 14th 06 08:16 AM |
REQ: Rocket Fuel & Propulsion | [email protected] | Space Shuttle | 3 | August 28th 05 10:11 PM |
In-flight comet mining for water and fuel | Abdul Ahad | Technology | 2 | September 13th 04 07:15 AM |
In-flight comet mining for water and fuel | Earl Colby Pottinger | Technology | 0 | September 8th 04 05:05 AM |