Print Me a Condo on the Moon!

Forum: SSI-List
Thread: Print Me a Condo on the Moon!

# 22850 byGARY ANSORGE on Feb. 23, 2013, 5:40 p.m.
Member since 2022-08-22

Melted regolith could be used for building enclosures, similar to the igloo structures built by eskimos. We would only need an inflatable parabolic reflector, about 100 square meters, to focus sunlight. At 1350 watts/m^ , a 100 m^2 reflector, focused to one square meter produces 135,000 watts/m^2 of thermal energy. Melt the regolith into one meter thick blocks and build your igloo, then spray it inside with an epoxy sealant. Voila. A dome home...
Gary 7

It still requires taking a shipload of magnesium oxide and another of binding salt to the Moon. If you could find that on the Lunar surface, great, but this sounds like they'd be bringing it from Earth.

Of course, if the alternative is bringing the ENTIRE structure from Earth, it might bee the best thing going. Also, bulk raw material like that could be launched with a Verne cannon or other high-G method which a prefabricated habitat module might not survive.

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