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Moon Exploration: Manned Missions & Moon Bases

This bad news that's been rumored for some weeks seems to be official now. NASA's Office of Inspector General has issued a formal report claiming a manned moon landing by the end of 2024 can't happen because of problems and delays in developing the next generation of spacesuits.
US astronaut moon landing 'not feasible,' by 2024, NASA's inspector general finds

Because of anticipated delays in spacesuit development, it is "not feasible" for NASA to land humans on the moon by the agency's hopeful deadline of 2024, a new report from the agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has found.

In this new report, which the OIG's Office of Audits released on Tuesday (Aug. 10), NASA's Inspector General has audited the agency's development of next-generation spacesuits, called the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU). NASA is creating the suits to be worn and used as part of the agency's Artemis program, which the agency has said will return humans to the lunar surface by 2024. However, according to this evaluation, that timeline is not only unlikely, but even impossible.

"NASA's current schedule is to produce the first two flight-ready xEMUs by November 2024, but the agency faces significant challenges in meeting this goal," the audit reads. However, it adds, given anticipated delays in spacesuit development, "a lunar landing in late 2024 as NASA currently plans is not feasible." ...
FULL STORY: https://www.livescience.com/nasa-moon-landing-2024-feasibility.html
 
Taking the piss - how to build moon bases.

Future astronauts could make lunar buildings out of moon dust and pee.

That’s the suggestion of chemist Anna-Lena Kjøniksen and her colleagues, who made a cement from urea — a major component of urine — and faux lunar soil.

When humans take up long-term residence on other planets or the moon, they will need to pack light, in part because shipping materials from Earth is expensive. NASA has estimated that every pound of material sent into orbit around the Earth costs around $10,000.

Tapping into local resources could keep costs down. Researchers have suggested using lunar soil to make concrete or cement to 3-D print dwellings for astronauts (SN: 2/21/13). But most cement recipes require a lot of water, which is scarce on the moon and awfully heavy to blast into space (SN: 4/15/19).

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/astronauts-lunar-exploration-cement-urine-urea-3d-printing

More on taking the piss and blood.

Protein from human blood mixed with urine and a heaping pile of space dust are key ingredients in AstroCrete, a new kind of concrete that University of Manchester researchers believe could be a valuable building material for tomorrow's offworld colonies. Given the cost of transporting construction materials into space, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is essential to the future of space exploration. From the University of Manchester:

In an article published today in the journal Materials Today Bio, scientists demonstrated that a common protein from blood plasma – human serum albumin – could act as a binder for simulated moon or Mars dust to produce a concrete-like material. The resulting novel material, termed AstroCrete, had compressive strengths as high as 25 MPa (Megapascals), about the same as the 20–32 MPa seen in ordinary concrete.
However, the scientists found that incorporating urea – which is a biological waste product that the body produces and excretes through urine, sweat and tears – could further increase the compressive strength by over 300%, with the best performing material having a compressive strength of almost 40 MPa, substantially stronger than ordinary concrete[…]

https://boingboing.net/2021/09/14/a...concrete-for-construction-in-outer-space.html
 
More on taking the piss and blood.

Protein from human blood mixed with urine and a heaping pile of space dust are key ingredients in AstroCrete, a new kind of concrete that University of Manchester researchers believe could be a valuable building material for tomorrow's offworld colonies. Given the cost of transporting construction materials into space, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is essential to the future of space exploration. From the University of Manchester:



https://boingboing.net/2021/09/14/a...concrete-for-construction-in-outer-space.html
Just need plenty of human sacrifices when they colonise another world :oops:
 
I'm surprised they are considering using urine, as the water that they would get from filtering it would be an incredibly valuable resource, if not essential, assuming no viable water source 'on site'!
 
I'm surprised they are considering using urine, as the water that they would get from filtering it would be an incredibly valuable resource, if not essential, assuming no viable water source 'on site'!
They might be able to filter the urea out during the purification/recycling process and collect it separately, however once you have drained the sacrificial victims of all of their blood, you might aswell drain their urine as well, you would also have a source of fresh meat :p
 
I like your thinking. But I think I'll hold off on my volunteering for the moon missions until they've got all the buildings erected.
I wouldn't want to become fodder for the lunar cannibals.
 
Well, in the least surprising, though no less disappointing, announcement, NASA has confirmed that a new moon landing will not happen before 2025.

Pooh.

Nasa's Moon return pushed back to 2025​

(Via BBC News)

The first Nasa mission since 1972 to put humans on the Moon's surface has been pushed back by one year to 2025.
Few observers expected Nasa to make the previous 2024 date, because of a funding shortfall and a lawsuit over the landing vehicle.
But the space agency's chief Bill Nelson confirmed the delay in a press conference on Tuesday.
Under its Artemis programme, Nasa will send the first woman and the 13th man to the lunar surface.
 
Well, in the least surprising, though no less disappointing, announcement, NASA has confirmed that a new moon landing will not happen before 2025.

Pooh.

Nasa's Moon return pushed back to 2025​

(Via BBC News)

The first Nasa mission since 1972 to put humans on the Moon's surface has been pushed back by one year to 2025.
Few observers expected Nasa to make the previous 2024 date, because of a funding shortfall and a lawsuit over the landing vehicle.
But the space agency's chief Bill Nelson confirmed the delay in a press conference on Tuesday.
Under its Artemis programme, Nasa will send the first woman and the 13th man to the lunar surface.
The aliens leaned on them and said 'no'.
 
Whats the betting the Chinese or a private investor will get there first?
 
Whats the betting the Chinese or a private investor will get there first?

'Get there', or 'get there and back'? The 'and back' part is every bit as difficult as the 'get there' part, and the lift-off from the moon's surface is not a maneuver that can be rehearsed in advance on earth or in orbit.
 
Maintenance of persistent bases or colonies on other worlds is dependent on the extent to which materials essential to extended human occupation can be obtained locally. Surprisingly, one of the most abundant and important locally available substances on the moon is oxygen. The problem is harvesting it out of the lunar rocks and soil within which it's currently bound.
There’s Enough Oxygen in the Lunar Regolith To Support Billions of People Living on the Moon

When it comes to the future of space exploration, a handful of practices are essential for mission planners. Foremost among them is the concept of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), providing food, water, construction materials, and other vital elements using local resources. And when it comes to missions destined for the Moon and Mars in the coming years, the ability to harvest ice, regolith, and other elements are crucial to mission success.

In preparation for the Artemis missions, NASA planners are focused on finding the optimal way to produce oxygen gas (O2) from all of the elemental oxygen locked up in the Moon’s surface dust (aka. lunar regolith). In fact, current estimates indicate that there is enough elemental oxygen contained in the top ten meters (33 feet) of lunar regolith to create enough O2 for every person on Earth for the next 100,000 years – more than enough for a lunar settlement!

While the Moon does have a very tenuous atmosphere that contains elemental oxygen, it is so thin that scientists characterize the Moon as an “airless body.” But within the lunar regolith, the fine powder and rocks that cover the surface, there are abundant amounts of oxygen in lunar rocks and regolith. ...

According to John Grant, a lecturer in soil science at Southern Cross University, Australia, the Moon’s regolith is approximately 45% oxygen by content. However, this oxygen is bound up in oxidized minerals – particularly silica, aluminum, iron, and magnesium. ...

However, for that oxygen to be usable by future astronauts and lunar inhabitants, it needs to be extracted from all that regolith, which requires a significant amount of energy to break the chemical bonds. ...
FULL STORY: https://scitechdaily.com/theres-eno...upport-billions-of-people-living-on-the-moon/
 
What could possibly go wrong?

Government signs £2.9m Moon base nuclear power deal with Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce scientists and engineers are to research how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base.
The UK Space Agency has given the Derby-based firm £2.9m to look at ways of powering future lunar settlements.
The company has been asked to demonstrate how nuclear micro reactors could extend the duration of future missions to the Moon.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64982477
 

Government signs £2.9m Moon base nuclear power deal with Rolls-Royce​


Rolls-Royce wants to send a nuclear reactor to the Moon by 2029
By Dan Martin
BBC News

Rolls-Royce scientists and engineers are to research how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base.

The UK Space Agency has given the Derby-based firm £2.9m to look at ways of powering future lunar settlements.

The company has been asked to demonstrate how nuclear micro reactors could extend the duration of future missions to the Moon.

The government said the deal would boost the UK's space industry and create skilled jobs.

The UK Space Agency said it wanted to establish a new power source to support systems for communications, life-support and scientific experiments on the Moon.

The agency's chief executive Dr Paul Bate said: "We are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the UK.

"Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base.

"This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment."

Rolls-Royce said it wanted to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029.

The company will work with the University of Oxford, University of Bangor, University of Brighton, University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC on the project.

The Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: "Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth, from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and much more.

"As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base."

Director of future programmes for Rolls-Royce Abi Clayton said: "The new tranche of funding from the UK Space Agency means so much for the Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor Programme.

"It will bring us further down the road in making the micro-reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and Earth."

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64982477
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Government signs £2.9m Moon base nuclear power deal with Rolls-Royce​




A moon base
Image source, Rolls-Royce
Image caption,
Rolls-Royce wants to send a nuclear reactor to the Moon by 2029
By Dan Martin
BBC News

Rolls-Royce scientists and engineers are to research how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base.
The UK Space Agency has given the Derby-based firm £2.9m to look at ways of powering future lunar settlements.
The company has been asked to demonstrate how nuclear micro reactors could extend the duration of future missions to the Moon.
The government said the deal would boost the UK's space industry and create skilled jobs.
The UK Space Agency said it wanted to establish a new power source to support systems for communications, life-support and scientific experiments on the Moon.
The agency's chief executive Dr Paul Bate said: "We are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the UK.
"Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base.
"This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment."
reactor
Image source, Rolls-Royce
Image caption,
A visualisation of one of the firm's proposed mini-reactors
Rolls-Royce said it wanted to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029.
The company will work with the University of Oxford, University of Bangor, University of Brighton, University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC on the project.
The Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: "Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth, from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and much more.
"As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base."
Director of future programmes for Rolls-Royce Abi Clayton said: "The new tranche of funding from the UK Space Agency means so much for the Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor Programme.
"It will bring us further down the road in making the micro-reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and Earth."

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64982477
Presentational grey line
It looks rather like a nuclear bomb, deployable from orbit.
 
I mean serious. Are we just going to let the fuckwits do whatever they want now, ala babies with hammers??!! It’s that fucken stupid. It is.
 
In my very very unhumble opinion, nucleating anything in our cosmic neighbourhood is IN Sane. I’m quite sincere. Until there’s a modicum of sense politically ( hardy fkn har), no nukes!!!!!!!!! Anywhere. It’s bad dangerous, yo!
 
In my very very unhumble opinion, nucleating anything in our cosmic neighbourhood is IN Sane. I’m quite sincere. Until there’s a modicum of sense politically ( hardy fkn har), no nukes!!!!!!!!! Anywhere. It’s bad dangerous, yo!
There aren't many power options on the Moon. No coal or oil. No wind energy.
Nuclear is the best option. Solar and fuel cells are OK, but not as effective.
 

Government signs £2.9m Moon base nuclear power deal with Rolls-Royce​




A moon base
Image source, Rolls-Royce
Image caption,
Rolls-Royce wants to send a nuclear reactor to the Moon by 2029
By Dan Martin
BBC News

Rolls-Royce scientists and engineers are to research how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base.
The UK Space Agency has given the Derby-based firm £2.9m to look at ways of powering future lunar settlements.
The company has been asked to demonstrate how nuclear micro reactors could extend the duration of future missions to the Moon.
The government said the deal would boost the UK's space industry and create skilled jobs.
The UK Space Agency said it wanted to establish a new power source to support systems for communications, life-support and scientific experiments on the Moon.
The agency's chief executive Dr Paul Bate said: "We are backing technology and capabilities to support ambitious space exploration missions and boost sector growth across the UK.
"Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base.
"This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment."
reactor
Image source, Rolls-Royce
Image caption,
A visualisation of one of the firm's proposed mini-reactors
Rolls-Royce said it wanted to have a reactor ready to send to the Moon by 2029.
The company will work with the University of Oxford, University of Bangor, University of Brighton, University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC on the project.
The Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said: "Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth, from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and much more.
"As we prepare to see humans return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we are backing exciting research like this lunar modular reactor with Rolls-Royce to pioneer new power sources for a lunar base."
Director of future programmes for Rolls-Royce Abi Clayton said: "The new tranche of funding from the UK Space Agency means so much for the Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor Programme.
"It will bring us further down the road in making the micro-reactor a reality, with the technology bringing immense benefits for both space and Earth."

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64982477
Presentational grey line
Sounds mad but I wonder if the point of this is facilitate research on modular small scale nuclear without all the hair pulling and squealing from the 'nuclear=evil' folk, because "it's for space".
 
Sounds mad but I wonder if the point of this is facilitate research on modular small scale nuclear without all the hair pulling and squealing from the 'nuclear=evil' folk, because "it's for space".
Reckon there is some element of that.
However... most of the dangerous experimentation has already been done by those brave volunteers in Chernobyl.
 
Sounds mad but I wonder if the point of this is facilitate research on modular small scale nuclear without all the hair pulling and squealing from the 'nuclear=evil' folk, because "it's for space".
But according to your very own post a week ago on another thread:

I note though, that small modular nuclear reactors are quietly rolling out, there one going in at Trawsfynydd for example.
 
Thats not a lot of money these days
Exactly. According to the report the brief is to

look at ways of powering future lunar settlements.
The company has been asked to demonstrate how nuclear micro reactors could extend the duration of future missions to the Moon.

They’re not actually sending one just yet. And not for that money.
 
But according to your very own post a week ago on another thread:
True, but as I understood the article they're looking at making them even smaller and self contained.
 
No worries. I'm not bothered. It's not like I'm going to go back through all your posts looking for examples where it has happened before, like some would.
Anyhoo, I've reported you. Expect to receive a fixed penalty notice through the post. And a photograph.
 
Nuclear power is no more dangerous in space than being in space itself. Plenty of radiation already there, without shielding you'll be dead, or at least get cancer and be neutered even if you have a suit and supplies. We've sent many radio-isotope generators into space, which is where the radioactive elements were created in the first place.
 
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