4 ms·
Aside from H3 I'd argue everything on that list is within our grasp if we tried to do so.
by gnarbarian 9y ago
Aside from H3 I'd argue everything on that list is within our grasp if we tried to do so.
- jcranmer 9y agoIf you define it as "building infrastructure on the Moon to do so," no, it is not available with current technology. Where are you going to get your acids for refining, for example, if you can't scavenge from old piles of organic goop?
- gnarbarian 9y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refining_(metallurgy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refining_(metallurgy) >The repeated application of such fire-refining processes was capable of producing copper that was 99.25% pure. Copper and iron can be refined reasonably enough using heat. Maybe it's possible to "pitch" metallic ore into very close and highly a eccentric orbit around the sun to help melt it down before "catching" it on the other side. Perhaps acids could be brought up and recycled? https://www.space.com/13247-moon-map-lunar-titanium.html https://www.space.com/13247-moon-map-lunar-titanium.html Titanium might be more difficult. https://titaniumprocessingcenter.com/titanium-extraction-and-refining/ https://titaniumprocessingcenter.com/titanium-extraction-and... Seems like asteroid mining would be pretty straight forward on the surface of the moon. The lack of erosion is capable of showing us exactly where they are. Like I said it might take a hundred years before we can be totally self sufficient on the moon, but I think it's possible long term.
- gnarbarian 9y agoHere's a pretty cool research paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228918710_Design_and_Construction_for_Self-sufficiency_in_a_Lunar_Colony https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228918710_Design_an... another: http://www.chicagospace.org/strategies.html http://www.chicagospace.org/strategies.html