Space agricultufacility in ISS

> From: Dr. Omni [mailto:dromni@...]
>
> However, why not use direct sunlight? Would the crazy
> day-and-night cycle at
> LEO significantly diminish agricultural productivity? Or is
> that just to
> avoid the need of installing an unplanned transparent module in ISS?

I'm sure NASA would consider the latter a greater problem than the former.

> (Incidentally, maybe artificial lighting will be preferred
> for agriculture
> in many - or most - space settlements because of the
> flexibility in design
> and compartment utilization that it may give.)

Maybe at a very small scale, but not, I would guess, at the scales O'Neill
was contemplating. While I'm openly critical of several things Zubrin has
to say, he did make some interesting comments about the total wattage of
sunlight impinging even on a small island.

Mirrors are cheap, passive, and simple. There will be enormous efficiency
losses in the conversion of light to electricity and subsequent conversion
back into light again.

Regards,

Mike Combs