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To: NicknamedBob
Well crap. I guess I need to take down all those Van de Graaff Generators I've been putting up. I was just gonna use a static charge to repel space dust. They are configurable, so you can actually make them into a funnel to attract dust in sizable quantities if you need reaction mass or a new atmosphere.

Speaking of which... What's the dome made of? Will it withstand a certain amount of puncturing? Self sealing layer maybe? What would be the largest "hole" that could be put in it and still seal properly? If it is an "armored" clear composite material, how big a hit can it take before it shatters and how would we repair it?

Thinking on this from several layers. One, micrometorite bombardment will be a problem. Especially once we are up to speed ourselves. Two, I ain't going anywhere without my bang-bang collection. Consider 'em a security blanket for me. Noone is really sure what is gonna happen to the Zombies once we hit orbit.

33,665 posted on 07/11/2005 2:18:27 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (Never underestimate the will of the downtrodden to lie flatter.)
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To: Dead Corpse

Most repairs are designed to consider replacing the entire composite pane. This can be done in minutes by a trained repair crew.

The panes (designed something like automobile windshields, only thicker and more multi-layered) are in two parts, and are set up to be replaced from the inside and the outside. Outside work is especially rigorous. (Note: All repairs on the underside of the enclosures are done from the outside.)

The most serious kind of repair is that which bridges a strut section. For this, a special crawler is moved into place to cover the hole from the outside, while the replacement metal is put back into position, and then the glass panels emplaced.

One technique we use is that when a meteorite punctures both panels, an adjacent section in the same sub-group can rotate into place, and then the struts will close off the interior to minimize air-loss. After the automatic reaction, the repair crews replace all broken panels, and check for other damage.

We have sufficient atmosphere to make up for losses, and we can manufacture more oxygen from carbon dioxide or water-ice we discover in our travels. Nitrogen we would have to make up as best we could, but it shouldn't be difficult.

As for your bang-bang collection, the shooting range is in that swampy area to the left of the main gate as you exit. Keep your aim low, and shoot along the axis of rotation to avoid coriolis effects.


33,677 posted on 07/11/2005 2:47:11 PM PDT by NicknamedBob (Mighty and enduring? They are but toys of the moment to be overturned by the flicking of a finger.)
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