4 ms·

What's the heat source for this smelter/forger?

• jacquesm 7y ago
  The Sun.
  • 52-6F-62 7y ago
    Now that idea just makes me think of https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Nidavellir https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Nidavellir
    • jacquesm 7y ago
      I had this in mind: https://www.alamy.com/solar-oven-huge-parabola-shaped-mirror-to-catch-the-sun-s-rays-in-image4927188.html https://www.alamy.com/solar-oven-huge-parabola-shaped-mirror...
• Misdicorl 7y ago
  Large sun focusing mirrors might be sufficient
• raducu 7y ago
  That sweet Helium 3 nuclear fusion :) . Oh, wait, it would be just wasteful to use aneutronic fusion to smelt metals on the moon. You could probably sell the Helium 3 back on Earth and just use regular nuclear fusion to do that.
• scardine 7y ago
  The moon has ideal conditions for solar energy harvesting: no atmosphere, no weather... Since Project Apollo in the 1970s it is known that all the materials needed for manufacturing photovoltaic cells are present in lunar rocks and dust. Not saying it is an easy engineering feat, but the raw materials are there.
  • setr 7y ago
    combine factorio with kerbel space program, and we'll have this sorted out no problem
• s1artibartfast 7y ago
  you dont even need a smelter/forger if you want to build a massive space colony at the L1 lagrange point (which the moon elevator would pass through). Just pack the raw lunar regolith into prefab plastic sheeting similar. this is similar in concept to inflatable space habitats with the added benefit of radiation protection and thermal insulation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable_space_habitat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable_space_habitat