This is relevant to those who think that space habitats may be better
off using artificial light rather than windows or light pipes. Studies
from decades ago that looked at this issue were based on lighting
technology of the time, but things have changed quite a lot since then
(and are still changing).
- Joe
They can be printed using a modified ink-jet printer. So can
circuitry. I still think it might be worth it to cover the
whole roof of a Stanford Torus with such panels, making that
roof into a more sophisticated version of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cok0B0y_wBE
It could be run in "basic sky mode" most of the time, showing
a blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds, and a starry sky
at night, though I do hope they keep the image of both the
Moon and the Earth, because after all, they are living in
Space. There could even be sunsets, rosy dawns, and public
announcements.
And get this: it could match natural sunlight to a high degree.
From: Joe Strout
> This is relevant to those who think that space habitats may be better
> off using artificial light rather than windows or light pipes. Studies
> from decades ago that looked at this issue were based on lighting
> technology of the time, but things have changed quite a lot since then
> (and are still changing).
Interesting article, but I think I'll be convinced on this point when I read that researchers stationed in Antarctica have grown enough food crops with LED lighting to significantly reduce their need to import food.
Mike Combs
From: sailor.barsoom
> It could be run in "basic sky mode" most of the time, showing
> a blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds, and a starry sky
> at night, though I do hope they keep the image of both the
> Moon and the Earth, because after all, they are living in
> Space. There could even be sunsets, rosy dawns, and public
> announcements.
I think we got a visual illustration of this concept in the movie "Wall-e".
Mike Combs
Combs, Mike wrote:
> read that researchers stationed in Antarctica have grown enough food
> crops with LED lighting to significantly reduce their need to import food.
I don't think they've switched to LED lighting yet; they're using high
intensity discharge lamps.
Cheers,
- Joe
--- In spacesettlers, "Combs, Mike" wrote:
> point when I read that researchers stationed in Antarctica
> have grown enough food crops with LED lighting to
> significantly reduce their need to import food.
I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. Importing food to
Antarctica is pretty inexpensive (especially considering that
the researchers are rotated in and out already, so just put
food on the same ships). Importing food to Space is pretty
costly. Then again, it would be pretty cool. ^_~
--- In spacesettlers, "Combs, Mike" wrote:
>> It could be run in "basic sky mode" most of the time, showing
>> a blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds, and a starry sky
>> at night, though I do hope they keep the image of both the
>> Moon and the Earth, because after all, they are living in
>> Space. There could even be sunsets, rosy dawns, and public
>> announcements.
> I think we got a visual illustration of this concept in the
> movie "Wall-e".
Ah. My nephew has _Wall-E_. I'll have to check it out.
From: sailor.barsoom
> Antarctica is pretty inexpensive (especially considering that
> the researchers are rotated in and out already, so just put
> food on the same ships). Importing food to Space is pretty
> costly. Then again, it would be pretty cool. ^_~
Oh, no, I don't disagree at all that growing your own food is far more vital for space than for Antarctica. I was just trying to come up with an Earthly situation where there might be an economic incentive to implement this concept.
There are certain things we plan to do in space that we cannot do at all here on Earth, and on those things we just sort of have to take it on faith. One example would be solar furnaces with mirrors a couple of miles across made out of aluminized Mylar and coat-hanger wire. But there are some things we can do here on Earth, and I'd prefer to see the Earthbound demonstration before counting on it in space. I think large-scale agriculture under artificial illumination falls into this category. But I must allow that there may be no economic incentive for pursuing such a thing anyplace here on Earth with possibly only the exception of Antarctica.
Regards,
Mike Combs
On 12/19/08, sailor.barsoom wrote:
(...)
> Ah. My nephew has _Wall-E_. I'll have to check it out.
(...)
choke-full of planetary chauvinistic, anti space settlement ideology.
;-)
Yep! The Las Vegas strip in space... very nice.
He's even memorized most of the dialogue (since there are only about
5 words spoken by the main characters in the whole movie).
E.V.A.!
--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Combs, Mike"
>
> From: sailor.barsoom
> > It could be run in "basic sky mode" most of the time, showing
> > a blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds, and a starry sky
> > at night, though I do hope they keep the image of both the
> > Moon and the Earth, because after all, they are living in
> > Space. There could even be sunsets, rosy dawns, and public
> > announcements.
> I think we got a visual illustration of this concept in the
movie "Wall-e".
No, but we can test that at FMARS in the Arctic this summer. Great
idea, thanks!
>
> Combs, Mike wrote:
>
> > Interesting article, but I think I'll be convinced on this point
when I
> > read that researchers stationed in Antarctica have grown enough
food
> > crops with LED lighting to significantly reduce their need to
import food.
>
> I don't think they've switched to LED lighting yet; they're using
high
--- In spacesettlers, "Lucio de Souza Coelho" wrote:
> (...)
>> Ah. My nephew has _Wall-E_. I'll have to check it out.
> (...)
> Just don't get too disappointed when you realize that
> Wall-E is choke-full of planetary chauvinistic, anti space
> settlement ideology.
> ;-)
Why am I suddenly reminded of _Titan AE_?
No problem!
--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "sailor.barsoom"
wrote:
--- In spacesettlers, "Kevin Burgess" wrote:
>
> Any of us could write a better story yes?
No. Believe me, I've tried (and still am trying).