Posted on 11/16/2001 1:07:25 PM PST by RightWhale
Researchers and space enthusiasts see helium 3 as the perfect fuel source: extremely potent, nonpolluting, with virtually no radioactive by-product. Proponents claim it’s the fuel of the 21st century. The trouble is, hardly any of it is found on Earth. But there is plenty of it on the moon.
Society is straining to keep pace with energy demands, expected to increase eightfold by 2050 as the world population swells toward 12 billion. The moon just may be the answer.
"Helium 3 fusion energy may be the key to future space exploration and settlement," said Gerald Kulcinski, Director of the Fusion Technology Institute (FTI) at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Scientists estimate there are about 1 million tons of helium 3 on the moon, enough to power the world for thousands of years. The equivalent of a single space shuttle load or roughly 25 tons could supply the entire United States' energy needs for a year, according to Apollo17 astronaut and FTI researcher Harrison Schmitt.
Look at the bright side: in the absence of an atmosphere, mine explosions will be a thing of the past, and the risk of "Miner's Lung" disease will be zreo.
And, they won't need to take canaries with them....
Yes, but think of the consequences of a gastric disturbance while sealed in a pressure suit.
Here's a perceptual problem due to too many movies. It would be more like working in the control room of a modern nuclear power plant. It might even be boring unless you like to do tedious things such as taking math classes for fun. The hard part for some workers is the trip out and back, especially the ones who do their entire career on one ship on one mission. 16 years alone, or even worse, with a small group.
-Captain, we have met and decided we don't like your decision to unfurl the solar panels at 25 degrees to the ecliptic. The shadow is blocking the sundeck.
-Hear this, crew, this is not a democracy. Return to your assigned duties immediately.
-Well, Captain, we hereby remove you from authority over this mining ship and the claim.
-Fine with me, crew, but you will miss those special dumplings on Sundays, won't you.
((Crew confers))
-Captain, we have decided that since you appear willing to take your dumplings recipe with you to the grave, that we, the crew, will tolerate your continued captaincy. Be aware, dumplings is the only thing we like about you. Tyrant.
Side story time: this is not a new problem. Astronauts, and aviators operating aircraft at very high altitudes (and thus wearing space suits), have long had to face this problem. Hence the "standard" breakfast prior to flight for such personnel: steak and eggs.
In space, flatus is NOT your friend.
Give me NASA for 4 years, and you will have your space transportation system and your business environment. Right-of-way railroad grants opened the West, if you need a hint where I am going with this.
First, yes there is 3He on the Moon. It's present at about the one part per billion level. You have to heat the soil to about 700 degrees C to drive off the 3He -- that several megawatts per ton of heating dirt. To be charitable, let's assume that you use focusing mirrors to capture "free" solar thermal radiation. You then have to collect it, isotopically separate the 3He, cyrogenically freeze it, store it, and transport it back to Earth.
But when you get it home, then what? We haven't achieved D-T fusion above breakeven yet, let alone D-3He fusion (which is about an order of magnitude more difficult). Commercial fusion power is like the end of the rainbow -- it's always "just around the corner." So, you're stuck with several tons of 3He, which I guess is useful to fill balloon animals with.
A much more proactical way to get energy from the Moon is to make solar panels on the surface using local materials and lay out solar arrays on the surface. Then, beam the electrical power back to Earth using microwaves of lasers. Basically, the Solar Power satellite idea, without the enormous launch costs associated with that concept.
I'll just mention this, an old idea in the FR archives.
reduces power consumption on earth;
the nasty Kyoto agreement is mooted;
hastens development of space mineral resources;
more of earth's real estate may be zoned residential rather than heavy industry.
There was a book written a few years ago called the "High Frontier" which delved into this subject (including mining the asteroids) quite thoroughly.
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