Caves

While thinking about inflatable habitats, it occured to me- why don't we just blow a tunnel on the moon, or mars, cover it with an airlock, and tada! instant habitat. No windows, though.

Is a great idea (good thinking) and it has also occurred to other people. But there remains the problem of getting sufficient equipment "up there" which must be solved first.

An inflateable habitat ... now that's also a good idea, and it is less problematic to get to the moon. Perhaps the first larger moonbases will employ this idea (the first smaller moonbases having already arrived and departed in the late 1960's).

You could use a combination of both. Dig a trench (or just a hole) place an inflateable habitat, and then cover it with the trench/holes ejecta (is that the right name for the stuff you've just removed from the hole? Dunno!) Anyway, the chances are that that's the way forward initially. Certainly the rubble covering will reduce the radiation problem, and also insulate the habitat. Personally though, I'd want a window or two. You've gone all that way to live in a cave? Ha!

Caves---whether artificial or existing---provide strong benefits. They are easier to insulate and, thus, maintain a livable enviroment than inflatable "tents" on the surface. Offer great protection from metorites and such accidents that might puncture the outer walls. ... Cons, they will require a goodly amount of energy to build if you have to excavate in toto (as opposed to finding a lunar or Martian equivalent of Carlsbad or Mammoth).

All said, for a permanent planetary facility on an airless or nearly so body, caves are good.

--Ralph

lavatubes (both on the moon and mars):
http://www.argoverse.com/LAVATUBE.html

as for windows, you will be able to be outside more than enough and can enjoy the view then...

...but when that solar storm (moon) or sand storm (mars) hits you you'll just want to be sure you're safe. so no windows, at least not in the subterranian [that's a word which needs revising isn't it? lol] designs, or for sleeping quarters etc.

Lava tubes are an interesting concept. Thanks for the link!

--Ralph

The article "Mysterious Mars Moon a Pile of Rubble" ( www.space.com/scienceastronomy/081016-m ... ubble.html ) says about the martian moon Phobos that

So what about using at least one og the caverns as a space station from where landings on Mars might be done? There no tunnels need to be made except for access to the caverns.

What about it?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)