axel000 wrote:Just read a piece on space.com today, interesting to hear that Virgin Galactic will be running a second spaceport out of Sweden in 2011/2012 for suborbital flights. Apparently the added attraction is a possible first person view of the northern lights.
I quite enjoyed that! (Apart from the preponderance of smug American infomercials.)
"I am a very considerate person. If I want to go out all night on my miniature golf course and shoot lizards, well, no reason to keep the neighbours awake..."
Interesting piece over on space.com regarding the interactions between the Earth and the Moon. Specifically, lunar dust storms kick up monthly on the dark side of the moon during full moon, caused by the moon passing through the Earth's magnetic field. In addition to dust storms, there are rapid waves of static discharges...perhaps a future power source for lunar equipment ? The dust storm issue would seem to be problematic for any dark side based telescope equipment.
The best argument I've heard for lunar power would be to put collectors (a) in permanent darkness and (b) in permanent light. Allegedly you can run power off the temperature differential between the two. God knows how much though - but this does tie you to the lunar poles for settlement.
The best argument I've heard for lunar power would be to put collectors (a) in permanent darkness and (b) in permanent light. Allegedly you can run power off the temperature differential between the two. God knows how much though - but this does tie you to the lunar poles for settlement.
Sounds like a plan, except it doesn't have to be permanent if you can reverse the flow, though that would mean building pipelines (or whatever) from one face of the moon too the other. Space is very cold, you couldn't use water, it would freeze.
"My way is the way of not fighting":- the book of Enter the Dragon.
"I am a very considerate person. If I want to go out all night on my miniature golf course and shoot lizards, well, no reason to keep the neighbours awake..."
