Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amdcad!amdahl!ems From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Lunar Colony Message-ID: <1228@amdahl.UUCP> Date: Mon, 4-Mar-85 20:40:37 EST Article-I.D.: amdahl.1228 Posted: Mon Mar 4 20:40:37 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 6-Mar-85 00:42:48 EST References: <135@ISM780.UUCP> Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca Lines: 48 > > It seems like one of the first orders of business would be > to start some type of farm, because food is high bulk, and people > need a lot of it every day. Water and oxygen would be broken out > of the rocks, and metals smelted using solar mirrors. > > a lathe Food for ~1 year > plastic monomers solar mirror pieces (don't have to be very good) > plastic tents digging equipment (vacuum version of small cat) > water fertilizers, seeds, farming tools > electronic repair kit medical equipment and drugs > explosives wire, lights, general electrical contractors stuff > air renewer (and spares) pressure suits > The first order of business is housing, second is air, third is water, fourth is food. Somewhat in parallel with these comes the need for various tools. As a decendant of blacksmiths I have learned the traditions of tool making. Forget draging the farmtools and small hand tools up with you (after the first batch - and even they are optional). A good smith given reasonable ore and smelting facilities can make an astounding number of tools. Drill bits are among the easier things to make. A lathe would be hard, but given time ... (you see, first you make the anvil, hammer and tongs, then the files, bits, punches and chisles. Next come the pliers...) (I can see it now: 'Neath the spreading antennae tree, the village smithy ... ' Image of burly man sweating in space suite, pull back to show craters and solar forge...) Also, explosives can be made from plant and animal products. Look into the technology of back-to-the-earth homesteads and survivalists for some creative solutions. Mostly what you need is a way to make water, air, and soil (the hard part. there is a lot of stuff in soil.) rand keep it from going away while you let controlled amounts of sunlight in. The rest depends on the kind of lifestyle you want. It could range from early agricultural (add seeds) on up to hightech (add hightech list of medicines and electronics). E. Michael Smith ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems Computo ergo sum The opinions expressed by me are not representative of those of any other person - natural, unnatural, or fictional - and only marginally reflect my opinions as strained by the language.