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Location: Chemistry/Physics Building, MUN
Time: 8:00 pm
Present: 21
Chris Stevenson noted the stuff we have for sale, and that the December meeting will be on the second Wednesday of the month, to avoid the Christmas crunch. Chris introduced Dr. Chris Woodworth-Lynas.
Or, how to stay alive on a planet....
Dr. Woodworth-Lynas started by thanking PETRA, his employer, and the SpaceHab project. SpaceHab was studied by PETRA as part of NASA's Lunar Exploration Systems Architecture. Some of the material from this talk came from this project.
Up until 2008 there will be many new nations involved in lunar exploration and supposedly there will new involvement in the states if Bush's program of exploration takes hold. In order for future interplanetary space exploration to be practical it has to be affordable and effective.
If we are to stay on the moon any length of time, we need to use local resources. At mid-latitudes there is regolith (contains iron), silicon dioxide (could be used for fibreglass), and Helium-3. Near the poles there is the possible addition of frozen water.
Mars missions would be able to avail of water in the polar caps. Event at mid-latitudes there is likely sub-surface water within a couple of hundred metres of the surface. Unfortunately, the possibilities for solar power are lower, especially in a sandstorm. One extra resource on Mars is the atmosphere itself, although 0.7 percent of the earth's there is ready access to carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, and some oxygen.
Dr. Woodworth-Lynas then outlined some possible exploration technologies that have been studied, including remote sensing, rovers, tumbleweed and other passive movement ideas, and drilling technology.
Many processing and manufacturing technologies have long been explored. On the moon, there is the possibility of making water from Ilmenite, and microwave sintering of the lunar soil. The latter can make solar panels and even huge radio telescopes from craters.
Habitat building is one other essential skill. There are many possibilities for lunar habitats. One can compact the regolith into blocks/bricks and use a dry binder to mortar them together. Habitats can be made in subsurface geological structures such as caves and lava tubes. Sintered blocks can be made using combustion synthesis (a special process using a combustible material mixed with the blocks). The regolith itself can be used. A 3 metre trench provides enough shielding from radiation. Structures can be buried, made from sandbags, or rocks. In these cases, the addition of an elastomeric polymer can provide support for a breathable atmosphere. Structures can also use glass fibers locally manufactured.
Following the talk there was a question and answer period.
Chris presented Dr. Chris Woodworth-Lynas with an RASC Calendar as a token of our thanks.
There were several pictures of Mars that were shown. Members seem to be getting the hang of imaging planets (David Caruk, Robert Babb, and Chris Stevenson). Not much was seen in the way of Taurid fireballs. Fred Smith saw one from indoors. Unfortunately, it was close to a street light, but didn't seem too bright.
Joe English received his Deep Sky Observer prize from Star-B-Que.
Robert reported on observing over the next month. There was a sunspot, sundog, moondog discussion. Robert took us to the Clear Sky Clock and showed how that was used, and some of the information available. He noted SkyHound has a Mars article, good for new observers of Mars. The Leonids will be on November 17th this year, with a bright moon, however.
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