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Terraforming [sort of]: why the Moon is a better target than Mars
bigthink.com ^

Posted on 10/27/2021 10:51:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin

The Moon is closer, always has a view of Earth, can exchange signals and deliverables hundreds of times more quickly than can be exchanged between Earth and Mars, and is easier to land on and take off from.

On the Moon, solar power is a tremendous asset... In terms of the “bang for your buck” that you get from the Sun, the Moon is more than twice as efficient.

In terms of the elements that both worlds are made out of, the chemical compositions of the compounds we find, and the isotope ratios of the materials present, the Moon and the Earth have a common history. With the exception of the biological components found in Earth’s topsoil, the composition of the Moon’s regolith is identical to the composition of Earth’s crust.

But if we bring: a self-enclosed structure, the air necessary to fill it, the bacteria needed to properly enrich the soil...Simply crushing lunar rocks to make soil will be sufficient to begin the process of lunar agriculture.

In 2008, researchers went to test out the suitability of using lunar soil to grow terrestrial plants by testing out marigolds. When bacteria were added, the resulting plants were entirely healthy.

Rather than attempt to terraform an entire planet, going to the Moon would give us the luxury of terraforming only the area of interest, a little bit at a time, while we learn valuable lessons that could potentially be applied worldwide. For each world that’s out there, we only get one chance to do things properly. When it comes to the question of terraforming, we’d be mighty fools not to go after the low-hanging fruit first.

(Excerpt) Read more at bigthink.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: lavatubes; moon
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"Lava tubes, found on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, but expected to be on many planets, provide underground shelter from harsh surface conditions. With the appropriate infrastructure, the first Martian settlements might benefit from using such a location instead of surface-dwelling. (Credit: Dave Bunnell/Under Earth Images)
1 posted on 10/27/2021 10:51:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Well, in about 500 million years, the moon and earth will be closer to the sun than Mercury is now, as it expands into a red star. So we probably need to start working on moving - maybe to one of the moons of Jupiter. Use the moon to launch to Mars, then from Mars to Jupiter.


2 posted on 10/27/2021 10:53:27 AM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: BenLurkin

But the Moon is a Harsh Mistress.............................


3 posted on 10/27/2021 10:53:47 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: BenLurkin

just bring lots of “flex seal” start painting the insides of those tubes, = instant air tight shelter


4 posted on 10/27/2021 10:54:43 AM PDT by Ikeon (my bucket list includes punching a guy in the face when he reaches down to pull up his pants😃)
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To: monkeyshine

The red giant phase won’t happen that soon. There’s still about 4 billion years to go before that. That said, in about a billion years the Sun will be about 10% more luminous than it is now as it burns more hydrogen and the Earth will be unlivable anyway.


5 posted on 10/27/2021 10:55:08 AM PDT by Windcatcher (Time to fly the other black flag -- one of no quarter for Marxists.)
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To: BenLurkin

Big advantage is doing your beta testing three days from home. Much easier to get stuff you forgot to bring.


6 posted on 10/27/2021 10:55:24 AM PDT by marron
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To: Red Badger

tanstaafl


7 posted on 10/27/2021 10:55:48 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Prolly not the best idea to do a lot of moon mining. Mars ok but should leave the mass of the moon as constant as possible.


8 posted on 10/27/2021 10:56:33 AM PDT by corkoman
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To: Red Badger

Then we can Sail Beyond The Sunset.

Maybe on a Friday.

L


9 posted on 10/27/2021 10:58:55 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: corkoman

I would advocate mining the Moon for the materials to build up heavy industry on the Moon. Being able to manufacture and launch spacecraft from the Moon would be a game-changer.


10 posted on 10/27/2021 10:59:23 AM PDT by Windcatcher (Time to fly the other black flag -- one of no quarter for Marxists.)
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To: Red Badger

Great reference!


11 posted on 10/27/2021 11:01:25 AM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Lurker

I Will Fear no Evil, as long as there is Time Enough for Love.............


12 posted on 10/27/2021 11:02:09 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Windcatcher
In about 20 million years, there will likely be a mass-extinction asteroid hit the earth.

Better check your homeowner's insurance policy.

13 posted on 10/27/2021 11:05:01 AM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: BenLurkin

Whether its Mars or the moon I’ve always thought these people into terraforming were folks who’d just read too much Douglas Adams. Maybe when somebody has made the Sahara Desert or the interior of Australia into something reasonably habitable I’ll take them seriously, but until then just from the stand point of logistics doing it somewhere extraterrestrial looks to me like a giant exercise in wishful thinking.


14 posted on 10/27/2021 11:05:03 AM PDT by Stosh
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To: BenLurkin

TANSTAAFL


15 posted on 10/27/2021 11:05:43 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Looks like I'll have to buy the White Album again.)
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To: Windcatcher
Besides which, the moon is hollow inside making it unsuitable for terraforming. It was built and placed into earth's orbit as a rest stop and forward surveillance base for intergalactic travelers.


16 posted on 10/27/2021 11:05:53 AM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: Red Badger

But will we be Between two Planets?🤔


17 posted on 10/27/2021 11:06:00 AM PDT by BiteYourSelf ( Earth first we'll strip mine the other planets later.)
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To: Red Badger

Will they have Starship Troopers?

L


18 posted on 10/27/2021 11:06:01 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Lurker

they may be Orphans of the Sky... or Farmer in the Sky...........


19 posted on 10/27/2021 11:08:23 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

Name the first base Farnham’s Freehold.

L


20 posted on 10/27/2021 11:09:02 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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