New Space Settlement image

Assumption: The window area is made up of segmented window panels.

Now imagine a big tortiose shell that goes over the window to be
replaced and seals in the atmosphere.

On the outside of the cylinder there is a ring that spins with the
colony. This ring is about 100 m wide, and has a seal to keep in the
atmospere. The ring can travel the length of the colony.

To replace a window, put tortoise shell over it. Suck out water, and
air. Move the ring to where the window. Once the seal in the ring is
complete, remove window, put new window in. Test for leaks, (suck air
out of tortoise and see where the leaks are from the ring). Remove
tortoise.

I figure you would have two or three such rings for maintenance
purposes.

Bill

--- In spacesettlers@egroups.com, Ian Woollard
> bill t wrote:
>
> > You can add about a meter of water more and get rid of the film
> > altogether.
> > A cute side effect is that you will get higher humidity.
>
> I've a feeling that keeping the humidity low is better
> by and large. It reduces the growth of molds and fungus
> for one thing. (Think: Mir.)
>
> Perhaps it is simpler just to ditch the water and use this
> special technique called 'washing the windows'? Keeping the
> UV out is trivial with plastic covering.
>
> Incidentally how *do* you replace a window in a habitat?
>
> > But you can
> > adjust the temperature by increasing or decreasing the light
intensity