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Small Robots Could Build Landing Site For Moon Base
A new NASA-sponsored study suggests that small lawnmower-sized robots could be used to build a landing site for a moon outpost. In order to be efficient a landing pad would have to be close to any structures created, but without an atmosphere to slow down the lunar sand it would sandblast the outpost, creating the need for some sort of protection. By using small robots to either build protective berms or collect rocks to "pave" a landing pad, NASA hopes to provide protection against the sand-blasting effects of a landing on the moon.
No weather on the moon. No thieves. No vandals. No vegetation. No mud. 1/6th gee. No wind to blow piles of dirt away. It's a simpler environment to work in.
Forget the construction work, could you build a rover that would last 90 days in Minnesota. just driving around photographing things?
...If there was any way to automate the process more than it already is, it would be done by now.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
Sound familiar?
I'll go. Tomorrow. Somebody get me a shovel and a suit.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
All of those arguments work just as well in Minnesota as they do on Luna.
MN is a much more hostile environment for robots than the moon is.
The soil shield would be for protection from micrometeorites and also keep the area inside in constant shade, reducing thermal effects that may be caused while transitioning from sun to shade. a properly shielded and pressurized habitat could then be constructed within. The habitat could use a magnetic field generator in combination with other shielding materials to protect the "Lunarians".
-=Bang Bang=-