19th January 2004, 10:27 AM
Gold? Hardly likely. If the entire thing was made of gold underneath, it would have a lot more gravitational influence. Besides, big deal about gold. Precious minerals no longer determine the worth of money here on Earth. It's what the public at large THINKS money is worth that determines it's worth. This is the first thing anyone learns in economy class.
Generally, the hope is that, as resent hypothesis suggest, there are hidden pockets of water on Luna (the second we have a base on Mars, we'll kinda need to call our moon by it's actual name, since there will actually be more than one, though Mars' moons are pathetically small and will eventually crash into Mars itself), left there from impacts long ago. If there's water, you have fuel, cheap fuel that doesn't need to be flown TO the moon. Then, a base can be set up there permanently (especially if they can get a biodome working), with the entire goal of launching ships to the rest of the solar system from a very low gravity environment. That's the great thing about having the moon here. It's a cheap launch pad. A modified roller coaster will be enough to reach Luna's escape velocity.
One last thing, who here wouldn't love to brave the harsh cold vacuum of space inside what's effectively a giant balloon? Well, live your dreams because one of NASA's ideas is a big ol' inflatable space ship!
One REAL last thing. Anyone have any issues with a space craft with a big ol' parachute like thing about a mile ahead of it that uses the shockwaves produced by nuclear explosions to propel itself forward and accelerate REALLY fast? I love it and could see it working except... What about the extreme g's crushing the astronaut's bones?
Zoidburg: The bones! Always with the bones!
Generally, the hope is that, as resent hypothesis suggest, there are hidden pockets of water on Luna (the second we have a base on Mars, we'll kinda need to call our moon by it's actual name, since there will actually be more than one, though Mars' moons are pathetically small and will eventually crash into Mars itself), left there from impacts long ago. If there's water, you have fuel, cheap fuel that doesn't need to be flown TO the moon. Then, a base can be set up there permanently (especially if they can get a biodome working), with the entire goal of launching ships to the rest of the solar system from a very low gravity environment. That's the great thing about having the moon here. It's a cheap launch pad. A modified roller coaster will be enough to reach Luna's escape velocity.
One last thing, who here wouldn't love to brave the harsh cold vacuum of space inside what's effectively a giant balloon? Well, live your dreams because one of NASA's ideas is a big ol' inflatable space ship!
One REAL last thing. Anyone have any issues with a space craft with a big ol' parachute like thing about a mile ahead of it that uses the shockwaves produced by nuclear explosions to propel itself forward and accelerate REALLY fast? I love it and could see it working except... What about the extreme g's crushing the astronaut's bones?
Zoidburg: The bones! Always with the bones!
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)