• Urist@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    For real, resource extraction is a big one. Finding ice means they can make, besides water, oxygen and rocket fuel. Not to mention that shelters for radiation are incredibly hard to make without a huge amount of mass, which we cannot efficiently get into orbit without a space elevator. Hence being able to extract it from the location of the colony, say dig into the ground or build thick walls with bricks made from soil, is necessary for long term survival of the inhabitants. I think it is cool that due to these reasons having air balloons over Venus might even be a better option due to it having a protective atmosphere.

    • Jaytreeman@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      You can make a radiation field by running a large motor that would save you from the solar radiation.
      In space you always have access to the sun. A cheap form of power. You need a lot more batteries if you’re on the planet.

      Venus is a much better idea over mars.

      • Urist@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Didn’t know that it was feasible to create a radiation field by running a large motor. Not that I doubt you, but if you have a source I would be very happy to read more about it.

        • Jaytreeman@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          I heard about it on one of Isaac Arthur’s videos. I can’t remember which one, but the analogy he used was that earth’s magnetosphere is essentially a big motor created by earth’s metal core spinning. (Oversimplified) So you should be able to build a motor that would shield a station

          • R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            1 year ago

            Sure, and theoretically we could do a lot of shit. Isaac Arthur isnt a scientist he’s a edutainment YouTuber.

            Creating our own magnetosphere is a little more complex or we’d have already done it, plus what happens if it fails? Where’s your backup? You just gonna die when it shuts down?

            • Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              Creating our own magnetosphere is a little more complex or we’d have already done it

              There hasn’t been a need for it until now, thats like expecting people to invent parachutes before aircraft

              • R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                1 year ago

                We’ve been to space and understood radiation for decades, we’ve known that any potential lunar colony would need radiation shielding for long term habitation and Mars as well, which as a nation we’ve planned on going to since the Apollo program was still flying.

                You’re making a false equivalency here, the aircraft has been around for decades we just don’t have the financial backing in our space program to actually develop the technology. However, I can guarantee you that it’s not as simple as “just make a big electric motor!” Or some enthusiast would have already done it.