Evidence for Moon caves emerges as humans hunt for hospitable hideaway under lunar surface Scientists have uncovered evidence of underground caves on the Moon that humans could potentially use for shelter during a mission to the Earth’s natural satellite. The idea that the Moon might contain underground conduits stemming from surface pits has been debated for more than 50 years. The pits are thought to have been …
A little while ago, the BBC's version of this story was claiming that Mare Tranquillitatis was the site of an ancient ocean. I see that has now vanished - I wonder if chatGPT had a tentacle in the creation of the first version?
As for the caves, it sounds really useful, as long as they're stable. Wouldn't do to have the roof come down on our shiny new base!
"As for the caves, it sounds really useful, as long as they're stable. Wouldn't do to have the roof come down on our shiny new base!"
Building underground would have a big head start if there are suitable caves already installed that can be solidified and made gas tight. Investigating a few should be a priority. Building on the surface is far too risky for meatsacks.
Constant 17 degrees, you say, with plenty of room?
Build a massive data centre in them, set it to work on the ultimate AI project. Call it "Deep Thought." Ask it to calculate 6x9.
To be sure that it's properly supervised, transfer the entire "supervisory" populace of Earth (AKA politicians) into a biodome of sorts therein.
Then jettison the moon Space 1999 style.
Is there a copy of Heinlein's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" in their Science Library? If you have read that book then today's politics all seem quite peaceful. It's an excellent book that was SF originally but this work and current events seems to suggest it was about to predict the future?
Thanks, I just drank a Guinness ... my favorite since I was three years old and learned to get past the froth to drink the beer - my parents gave it me for the vitamins and minerals ... I'm just telling you this because I've never been drunk ... drinking the froth was a major sober issue for a kid. The icon is for you too :-)
"It's an excellent book that was SF originally but this work and current events seems to suggest it was about to predict the future?"
So "all" that's needed is to send up a few loads of convicts and the parts for an linear induction catapult? Grow wheat and fire it back at Earth where India can recover it?
There's a bit of handwavium on the part of Heinlein (and Niven), but there's also a bunch of good ideas. I don't think that growing food in the moon to send to Earth is a good idea. With advances in automation, adding to the two-legged overburden at the same increasing rate will only be perpetuated and eventually we will see Mother Nature hitting back in earnest. The moon could be a very good location for doing all sorts of science. The back side is the best place in the solar system for radio astronomy. I'd love to see something even bigger than Arecibo set up.
"Just the convicts and some tools, the catapult can be built from lunar materials."
I'm a big fan of James Burke's "Connections" and The Hamster did a series as well that took something we take for granted and traced back the bits and pieces so see how something such as a rollercoaster has evolved from all of that preceding technology. I see many people think that we'll conquer Mars by shipping people with a load of 3D printers without realizing that one can't simply shovel dirt into a 3D printer and wind up with a finished part. Just the materials needed for the printer need a vast amount of infrastructure to come up with.
Over time, using in-situ resources will be required. Especially for bulk materials, but maybe not for electronics and certainly not for the many things we derive from petro-chemicals. 3D printing can also take huge amounts of time. There's a little part I'll be printing today to help get my bandsaw working so I can make a part to get my mill/lathe up and running. I could make the same part on the mill much faster out of metal if the mill was available (and had the material on hand). Another part I need to print for a friend will be used to make a mold so a finished product will be able to be used where the 3D part won't as it comes off the platen.
Lunar caves played a big part in Wells' novel and Cavorite would certainly rain on Star-X's parade. ;)
If I recall the novel (rather than the 1964 movie) Cavor and Bedford escaped the Selenites and returned with a significant quatity of gold plundered from the Selenites.
Some just after landing accident caused their craft containing Cavor and the gold to fly off into space.
The themes of pre 1914 imperialism, exploitation and plunder are still as fresh today as they were then. :(
Taking inspiration from Brothers Grimm fairytale Hansel and Gretel, they described a "dynamically deployed communication network" implemented by subterranean rovers controlled and monitored by a mother rover
Doomed to failure. The mother rover dies, and then the stepmother rover spends all its time devising elaborate schemes to eat the subterranean1 ones.
1Sublunarean, Shirley?
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2025
