Posted on 11/16/2020 7:38:00 PM PST by BenLurkin
Why build one. Build a big enough rocket to ship a small nuclear submarine size nuclear plant to the moon.
Then send robots for initial set up.
And how will said plant be cooled, given the lack of water on the Moon?
10 KW? Why bother with nuclear for such a small output? In this case, is solar more reasonable? Send up a good supply of the latest Eneloop batteries? Or whatever Elon is using in the way of latest and greatest.
Back of the napkin calculations:
Just for comparison, the battery in the Tesla Model S is 100 KW-h. But for short bursts of acceleration, it can do 762 HP = 568.2 KW.
https://www.businessinsider.com/teslas-fastest-accelerating-production-cars-2020-4
Anyway, on the moon you have 14 days of darkness, which is 14 x 24 = 336 hours. At 10 KW use ALL THE TIME, that’s 3360 KW hours. Divide by 100 KW-h / battery = 33.6 Model S battery packs. Make it 40 to cover losses and battery aging. That’s 40 battery packs @ 1378 lbs. each = 55,120 lbs. I believe the latest Falcon Heavy could almost do it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heavy#Rocket_specifications
Well... ok, you have to keep the batteries warm in transit, and land them. Make it two missions. And one more for charge electronics and the solar panels? This is starting to add up, even at SpaceX prices.
One advantage of all these batteries is big pulse capacity. Say, if you want to fire a big laser at something. Or run a lunar railgun / catapult a la Heinlein.
Maybe someone else will have some fun with this. ;-)
I own the box set of Space:1999. Three seasons which ran from 1975-1977.
Most modern reactor designs are such that they are air cooled and/or run at much lower temperatures (thorium). I realize that there is little air on the moon, but if the reactor is on the dark side, temps can plummet pretty low. Also, I’d imagine the purpose is to mine the water they’ve discovered, and split the bond, using electricity, to create hydrogen for fuel. The oxygen from that process can be pretty useful, I’d think.
oops, make that 2 seasons. The third DVD is special features.
Uh, they’ll put in the dark side. Hello!? :-)
Most modern reactor designs are such that they are air cooled and/or run at much lower temperatures (thorium). I realize that there is little no air on the moon, but if the reactor is on the dark side, temps can plummet pretty low. Also, I’d imagine the purpose is to mine the water they’ve discovered, and split the bond, using electricity, to create hydrogen for fuel. The oxygen from that process can be pretty useful, I’d think.
Finally, someone with at least an inkling about the subject matter!
Regards,
#15. Re What Could Go Wrong? That TV show was what went wrong. Stupidest Sci-fi show on TV, bad acting and amateurish props. Sort of like the Democrat National Convention.
“on the dark side”
LOL!
But I’ll grant you the credit of meaning “in shadow”.
That is: that you have “some inkling” LOL!
Great thing about chemical processing on the Moon is that shadow and sunlight provide *free* all the energy requirement for most useful processes.
But I’ll grant you the credit of meaning “in shadow”.
Perhaps you didn't notice, but I was quoting krogers58.
Yes, I, too, noticed kroger's use of the expression "Dark Side of the Moon," which is erroneous, but didn't want to pick his posting completely apart.
Great thing about chemical processing on the Moon is that shadow and sunlight provide *free* all the energy requirement for most useful processes.
Would you please explain that statement? Why is "shadow" necessary to provide energy?
Regards,
“mine the water they’ve discovered”
LOL!
Seriously, “Hurray” for any water found on the Moon.
But oxygen and hydrogen, in quantity, will be provided only by extraction from minerals (requiring large energy input) and by plants.
Could be a lot of hydrogen on the Moon from the solar wind.
“Shadow” provides the necessary heat sink.
It is the difference in temperatures that provides the energy.
At the poles, there is a permanent temperature differential between shadow and sunlight to power most processes.
“Shadow” provides the necessary heat sink.
Do photoelectric cells require a "heat sink?"
Regards,
Assume you’re trying to dispute Kelvin, without anyone seeing LOL!
Really, it comes down to particulars. We don’t know many- but we know the difference between sunlit and shadowed areas on the Moon.
It’s Tsunami free.
Already been a couple of fission power plants in orbit. Granted, not high efficiency, but multi-kilowatt electrical level.
"You can count on Biden killing the return to the moon and redirecting NASA at some underfunded, unachievable Mars program"
That's if we are lucky. If we are not, say hello to the US funded Chinese Space Force.
Assume you’re trying to dispute Kelvin, without anyone seeing LOL!
Am not trying to "dispute Kelvin." Just want to hear from you why photovoltaic cells require "shadow" and/or a "heat sink."
Really, it comes down to particulars. We don’t know many- but we know the difference between sunlit and shadowed areas on the Moon.
What are you trying to say here? The "difference between sunlit and shadowed areas on the Moon?!" What are you talking about?
Regards,
Some nukes use liquid Sodium as coolant.
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