This is an interesting subject that I found while looking for surface anomalies that could provide a basis for a plot or scene – the crash sites of the Saturn boosters. The LRO found the Apollo fourth stages. And they are not normal craters. Continue reading Secrets of the Saturn IVB craters.
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Native Engines on the Moon
By “native engines” we refer to engines made strictly from Lunar materials. These are engines that produce mechanical motion. Native production of rocket motor propellants, and of rocket motors will be handled separately.
Native engines implies implies solar powered. Possible variations are: Continue reading Native Engines on the Moon
What is a one pass print on a 3d printer? Why is it important?
There is some talk in the book of “One pass printing.” This is a very simple thing, here is an example of a toy car that is printed in one pass. Continue reading What is a one pass print on a 3d printer? Why is it important?
Could a metallic meteor be found on the Moon?
Seven percent of meteors are metallic. Seven percent of the meteors hitting the Moon have been metallic. It is known that by far the largest percentage of this hit with sufficient velocity to vaporize, and their metal became yet another layer on surface dust and dirt. But why wouldn’t there be a few that didn’t vaporize?
One such meteor was found sitting on the surface on Mars. Of course, there is some air there to brake the incoming mass, as is the case on Earth. But could such a meteor be located on the Moon? Continue reading Could a metallic meteor be found on the Moon?
Lunar Timekeeping.
Rover operators attempting to maximize productivity on the Moon would benefit from a calendar and a timekeeping system specific to the requirements on that world. This is a very different thing than the use of a Lunar calendar on Earth. On Earth, calendars help in predicting seasons, tides, eclipses and other phenomena of interest on Earth.
What is of interest for Lunar operations as far as a time system? Continue reading Lunar Timekeeping.
Lunar WhiteOut – Moon-Blind
White out on Earth refers to conditions where the sky, due to low clouds, fog or snow, does not clearly transition to the ground. Typically in a white out there are no shadows, and there is a lot of white, so there is nothing seen but white. Whether you look down, up or forward, only white with no contrast. It is similar to a way over exposed photograph.
When the sun hits the Lunar surface close to high noon, there is little shadowing and the surface becomes very uniform, as occurs with “whiteout” as occurs on earth. NASA suggests that when the Sun’s angle is within 20 degrees of vertical, manned excursions on the surface would not be wise.
20 degrees of vertical would be a range of 70-110 degrees from the plane of the surface. However, the sunlit side of a crater could easily be within this range when the sun was in a number of positions. The same would be true for the sides of hills, at least in certain areas. Continue reading Lunar WhiteOut – Moon-Blind
How did the “NASA faked the Moon landing” conspiracy theory start?
The first landings on the Moon contained pictures of the LEM, and the astronauts standing on the lunar surface. Because at that time color television image transmission was possible but extremely low resolution (320×240 pixels typical), newspapers used on their front pages artist’s paintings and pictures of mockups Continue reading How did the “NASA faked the Moon landing” conspiracy theory start?
How rough is the surface of the Moon?
Video data is not good enough, it can lie.
Radar is used. Single polarity beams are focused on specific areas, then the returns are examined. The more mixed polarities in the returns (CPR) the rougher the area is.
Some areas can look smooth in the visual range but be extremely rough. Splattered lava fields, frozen while still happening, are one such example. Continue reading How rough is the surface of the Moon?
Lunar Helium 3: Where is it? Can it be mined?
Helium 3 is found exclusively in the lunar regolith, where it is implanted by the solar wind. This means that the molecules head for the moon from the sun at high velocity, hit the dirt and embed themselves directly into a solid object on the surface. Typically this is what we would consider a dust particle. The smaller particles, less than 50 nm in size will show the highest concentration due to their surface to volume ratios. It is reported that mechanical agitation of the soil can release the he3 quite easily.
The method of recovery of he3 on the moon as proposed Continue reading Lunar Helium 3: Where is it? Can it be mined?
Destination: Aricharchus
http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M175569775
Here is an oblique view of the crater from 26 nm
The viewer enables zooming in to 1.5′ resolution, and allows panning and exploring the crater. Continue reading Destination: Aricharchus
How could Lunar Polar ice be mined?
This is a surprisingly difficult problem.
The general idea is to not add heat to the environment where it’s so cold that the moon has saved up ice for us over billions of years. Add heat, and the goodies evaporate. Industrial scale engines and machines which create lots of waste heat may be out. In turn that means that a self contained rover might be a problem. What mechanical machine could we make that would work at 80 kelvin? Continue reading How could Lunar Polar ice be mined?
Lunar Ecology – Or Not
Ecology is defined as “The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.” One part of the MotM plot is Eli’s commitment to maintaining the Moon in a pure and untouched condition. Like many others, he misunderstands what this means.
Preservation of useful attributes of the Moon for future generations has to be figured from first principles. What are they?
The primary attribute of the Moon which could be damaged by industrialization is Continue reading Lunar Ecology – Or Not
Could we figure out if aliens had been on the Moon?
In this post I use the typical person’s definition of “alien”, some bug eyed thing with oversized brains and flying saucers, giant spaceships, whatever, and likely with two legs. There are other and more logical or likely constructs, but we’ll stick to the typical fantasy creation.
We would have the ability to know, but first we would have to look.
The lunar surface is a perfect record of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years. Continue reading Could we figure out if aliens had been on the Moon?
Lunar Poles – Coldest Places in Solar System
You may have heard that scientists have discovered ice on the moon. Here’s what is going on. Any molecules of water, oxygen, or any other thing floating around the moon perform ballistic orbits. A molecule might bounce a dozen times before settling down or flying on out of the gravity well. BUT if it randomly goes by the north or south pole, it slows down, because it’s cold there. At the poles, the Sun is low on the horizon, and solar irradiation is long slant rays. But the Moon is covered with craters! This means that there are places sunlight never reaches. Continue reading Lunar Poles – Coldest Places in Solar System
Where might lunar helium 3 deposits be best?
Helium 3 is found exclusively in the lunar regolith, where it is implanted by the solar wind. Many scientific proposals and papers on lunar resource mining and extraction are completely impractical. They represent attempts at adaptation of methods used on Earth. On Earth, chemicals such as fluoride or cyanide may be used in aqueous solutions Continue reading Where might lunar helium 3 deposits be best?
Aristarchus Crater and it’s Anomalies
http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc_browse/view/M175569775
Here is an oblique view of the crater from 26 nm.
The viewer enables zooming in to 1.5′ resolution, and allows panning and exploring the crater.
This crater is about 26W, 46N, and it is of interest for a simple reason: There have been many recent and historical reports of odd phenomena in the general vicinity of the crater–blue glow, darkening and red, unusually bright appearance, as examples.
We know there are radon gas emissions Continue reading Aristarchus Crater and it’s Anomalies
Mine Lunar Ice?
This is a surprisingly difficult problem.
Here’s one take on the matter: A medium power laser is positioned on a hill overlooking the areas where the ice is located. Either a natural path exists nearby or a rail is laid alongside. Line of sight, the laser is aimed at the rover and heats the Continue reading Mine Lunar Ice?