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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."
Does it come with an inflatable Astronaut for entertainment on those long cold nights?
I think it's a cool idea. Maybe after the structures are inflated, and later when appropriate manufacturing facilities are set up, perhaps a moon-soil-based rigid "foam" or "cement" can be sprayed or otherwise applied to the outside of the structures, making them semi-permanent?
Steve
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Good thinking, you should call NASA. They probably haven't thought about that yet.
That looney idea is full of hot air.
It will inflate the budget, burst public confidence, and bloat up NASA's beurocracy resulting in balooning costs creating an economic bubble until we float our currency or until an internal leak pops up that deflates the whole program. I take my mind off of such problems by listening to Led Zepplin.
Table-ized A.I.