Robohouse

--- In spacesettlers, "levi1_ca" wrote:

> all this is therotical at this time but if replicators could become
> actual and reliable then what more would you want - just send one
> that could reproduce itself a thousand times and then stop
> reproduction - they would dig a big hole utilizing lunar material to
> construct modular pieces which then could be assembled and
backfilled
> quickly -

This would indeed be the ultimate in both coolness and practicality.
Of course, I'm an impatient sort who doesn't want to wait until we
have full-on replicators. These things are *mostly* self-replicating
(each needs about 500 to 1000 grams of added stuff, which would have
to come from Earth), and not self-assembling at all (which is one
reason I suggested a ten-person crew from the start). So no, it
isn't as good as full-on replicators, but we don't have to wait two
decades to get started, either.

> the CC vision does not cut it as you need protection from radiation,
> micrometeorites, and other assorted problems.

Well, it could build a 25 cm thick wall of basalt. Wonderful stuff,
basalt. Then it could build another 25 cm thick wall around the
first, and then another 25 cm thick wall around that, and then
another 25 cm... until you had two metres of basalt wall thickness
betwixt you and the hazards mentioned.