Moonbase construction and SimLagrange

From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of absalomdraconis

> I'd also use a large solar array to provide power for the
> construction robots. Perhaps use micro-wave power transmission
> on a highly confined beam, that way you wouldn't need a
> powercord. It would also provide a chance to test some of
> the concepts for SPS tech on the outerspace end.

I'd agree that it would be nice to get some validation of power beaming,
but microwave might not be a good choice for this particular
application. We can routinely talk about highly collimated microwave
beams from SPS because there we can talk about phased-array emitters
about a mile across, and rectennas nearly 7 miles across. But obviously
that won't work here. You later talk about lasers, and in fact lasers
might be the better choice for remote powering of small pieces of
equipment. In that case the power receiver would actually be a PV
array.

But depending on power needs, fuel cells would probably be sufficient to
power construction equipment between trips to plug into the solar array.

> A high-power laser fires at an area directly below a recess in
> the robot's body.

If I'm correctly understanding you to be suggesting the use of lasers to
sinter lunar-material bricks, bear in mind that lasers are not terribly
efficient. Frightful amounts of power would be wasted. The reason why
sintered bricks are frequently cited for building material on the moon
is because this wouldn't require much more than a relatively low-mass
solar concentrator and the molds for the bricks.

Regards,

Mike Combs