Maybe OT - Lunar resources

Didn't quite know where to post this (If Dubya's 'plan' goes to plan, this
will become an increasingly large problem in the years ahead and maybe there
needs to be a sci.space.utilization group):
http://groups.msn.com/DaveDietzler/howmuch.msnw

Don't go off at me if the site is completely hair-brained as I haven't
looked at it yet, but considering how extensive the links on the right are,
it might be a good site for information.

--
Alan Erskine
We can get people to the Moon in five years,
not the fifteen GWB proposes.
Give NASA a real challenge

If you send 100 tons a year, it would take 200 years to reach 20,000 tons.
I think that launching 200 tons in 2 to 4 years is feasible. We need to
think about what can be done with 200 tons. The machines will be smaller
than you'd like, but they should be functional.

You'll need more than one truck, because humans don't like to be stranded in
the middle of nowhere.
Trucks - 5 x 10 = 50 tons
Bulldozers - 2 x 5 = 10 tons
Cranes - 2 x 10 = 20 tons
Digging equipment
Solar cell manufacturing
Oxygen manufacturing
Iron or Aluminum manufacturing
Habitat equipment which includes a machine repair facility

I don't know what this adds up to.

"Mike Rhino" wrote in message .. .
If you send 100 tons a year, it would take 200 years to reach 20,000 tons.
I think that launching 200 tons in 2 to 4 years is feasible. We need to
think about what can be done with 200 tons. The machines will be smaller
than you'd like, but they should be functional.

You'll need more than one truck, because humans don't like to be stranded in
the middle of nowhere.

Why do you think humans will be driving the trucks? I assume they'll
be teleoperated from Earth. The lunar crew will only touch them when
they break down.

Trucks - 5 x 10 = 50 tons
In lunar gravity? Why not 4 times 2.5 tons? = 10 tons

Bulldozers - 2 x 5 = 10 tons
Again, 4 times 2.5 tons = 10 tons. You may want to add 2.5 tons of
ballast (lunar dust)

Cranes - 2 x 10 = 20 tons
You're thinking Earth cranes. 2 tims 2.5 tons = 5 tons.

Digging equipment
Solar cell manufacturing
(One unit of 6.7 to 10 tons)
Oxygen manufacturing
(One unit of 6.7 to 10 tons)
Iron or Aluminum manufacturing
(One unit of 6.7 to 10 tons)
Habitat equipment which includes a machine repair facility
(Two units of 6.7 to 10 tons)


I don't know what this adds up to.

75 tons so far. Resupply will be similar. My own estimate was:

Phase 1 – Early settlement - 10 ton cargos
1. Utility module, explorers, fork lift trucks, digger, robots, solar
power - 5KW
2. Nuclear reactor, 10 tons 300KW
3. Supply module and closed system life support
4. Hab module (10m, 8 person)
5. Supplies Module
6. Mining module: Diggers, dump trucks, cable system
7. Spares / repairs module
8. Chemical Processing Unit: Volatiles
9. Volatiles storage system, heat shield sinterer.
10. Lunar Lander Tugs (2 off)

Humans come after landing 5 - they're then on a seperate schedule.

In phase 2, landing mass is doubled since the lunar landers are now
refueled on the lunar surface.

Phase 2 – Volatiles Exploitation - 20 ton cargos
11. Nuclear reactor (20 tons 600KW) or mountain top solar wall
(6,000m2)
12. Hab module (20m, 20 person)
13. Hab module support, Lunar Lander Tugs (2 off)
14. Chemical Processing Unit: Solids
15. Metals working unit
16. Supplies
17. Agricultural units
18. Exploration rovers