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NASA's Future Inflatable Lunar Base
Roland Piquepaille writes "If you think that future NASA's moon camps need to have a science fiction look, you might be disappointed. Today, NASA is testing small inflatable structures. In fact, if these expandable 'tents' receive positive reviews, astronauts will 'camp' on the moon as early as 2020. These 12-foot (3.65 meter) diameter inflatable units could be used as building blocks for a future lunar base. Right now, a prototype is tested at NASA's Langley Research Center. But NASA also wants to test other inflatable structures in the not-too-friendly environment of the Antarctic next year. Still, it's too early to know if NASA's first habitable lunar base will use inflatable or rigid structures."
I don't know exactly what NASA's design is, but the habitats created by Bigelow use a very strong material for the walls, and they create a thick multi-layered system to mitigate the effects of punctures.
Ummm...there's no "dark side of the moon," Geoff. But the nights are really long, since a lunar "day" or light/dark cycle takes about 28 days.
These outposts, as well as Bigalow's hotels, have multiple layers, one of which is essentially kevlar, the same stuff that bullet proof vests are made out of. They actually provide much better protection from micro-meteorites and space junk then our current metal structures do.
The main problem with inflatable shelters on the Moon is micrometeorids, and the lack of a significant atmosphere to stop them.
Of course, two options exist that can still make inflatables work. One is to bury them after inflating them, so that the layer of soil stops the micrometeors.
The other is to inflate a structure having multi-layer walls, with gaps between the layers and the outer layer made of aluminum foil. This is a known technique used to protect satellites from micrometeors. Impacting the outer wall destroys the projectile, and the expanding vapor cannot penetrate the next wall, especially if it also is made of foil.
Matter of fact, it's all dark.
+++ATH0
Oh for crying out loud! The accountants are whinging about 4.8 billion over twenty or more years?!
Have they LOOKED at the US budget? In 2006, 406 billion went to interest payments alone for the debt. And they're griping at a price that is 1/200th of that per annum. Absolutely unfuckingbelievable.
It's this kind of funding that is the reason NASA can barely ever get anything done. We give them a pittance and then complain when they can't build freaking spaceships with it, which gives us an excuse to cut their budget even more cause they never do anything anyway, right?
mirrorshades radio -- darkwave, industrial, futurepop, ebm.
Rigid structures, after a puncture, can provide a strong, even surface around small punctures against which a patch may be applied
Or it can provide a weak, folded, twisted and jagged surface that needs to be trimmed before a patch is applied and welded into place.
Inflated structures depend on surface-equalized pressure to keep the surface taut, and once punctured, the structure bulges outwards around the tear; the larger the tear, the less likely it is to provide a good seating surface for the sealant.
Have you ever patched a bicycle tire? This would be even simpler. The 'fabric' in this case is very much rip-stop. You take a patch, apply the appropriate cement to it, and slap it over the hole. Air pressure will take care of most of the effort of keeping the patch in place. If you want, you can then go outside and appy a similar patch to the outside. A hand holding it in place will work fine.
I don't read AC A human right