Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!ames!eugene From: eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Lunar rock chemistry Message-ID: <861@ames.UUCP> Date: Sat, 9-Mar-85 19:04:55 EST Article-I.D.: ames.861 Posted: Sat Mar 9 19:04:55 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 08:13:08 EST References: <358@umd5.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA Lines: 36 > Is it not true that if one passes an electric current through molten lunar > rock, one will get O2 in quantity ? I seem to remember reading this one > place or another .. If this is true then the Lunar Explorers will need not > carry a ton of atmosphere along with them to the moon !! > > -Chris SylvainYou must have seen Robinson Crusoe on Mars. I have a lump of anorthosite (sp) which is the material lunar astronauts practiced with to learn lunar planetary science. It does not appear to me that it would release O2 if it were or weren't molten. You would have to carry some incredible resources to raise the heat and the electricity. 2 langleys of solar energy is not a very great energy flux to make large quantites of O2. Plants located at the lunar poles suffer from angular geometric effects: you would have to build huge tower collectors which would have to rotate to follow the sun in a 28 day period. [This latter point for other postings.] A break even point ala fusion is a third consideration even if it were possible to release the O2. A separate note: on hybrid hypersonic transport engines for cheaper orbital costs. I have been reading about major areas of aerodynamic research. These complex engines are needed because they are crossing three flight realms: subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic. The turbine system which we have lots of experience can cover the first two realms. It turns out turbine engines are unable to hold a JP fuel flame much beyond mach 3. Enter a ram jet engine: not efficient at the lower speeds, but with hydrogen as fuel, it might be efficient in this realm. Not much experience with elaborate engines like this. The complexity might make two or more sets of engines better; then there are economic considerations for producing such a vehicle. --eugene miya NASA Ames Research Center {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,vortex}!ames!aurora!eugene emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA