Comments on: Making Lunar Soil Usable http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/making-lunar-soil-usable/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:07:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Johnny Blues http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/making-lunar-soil-usable/comment-page-1/#comment-15833 Johnny Blues Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:43:04 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/making-lunar-soil-usable/#comment-15833 Ok, I don't get this one. "Breaking down the same minerals artificially would require heating them to very high temperatures, which would use precious energy, Brown said. Cyanobacteria, on the other hand, use only sunlight for energy, although they do their extraction work more slowly than heating the soil artificially." Using lightweight reflectives, it would seem more than sensible to use the sun as primary heat source. Ok, I don't get this one.

"Breaking down the same minerals artificially would require heating them to very high temperatures, which would use precious energy, Brown said. Cyanobacteria, on the other hand, use only sunlight for energy, although they do their extraction work more slowly than heating the soil artificially."

Using lightweight reflectives, it would seem more than sensible to use the sun as primary heat source.

]]> By: John - www.moonposter.ie http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/making-lunar-soil-usable/comment-page-1/#comment-15832 John - www.moonposter.ie Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:33:17 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/03/17/making-lunar-soil-usable/#comment-15832 I understand that cyanobacteria can be a problem here on Earth concerning Algae Blooms, affect pond and fish life etc., however, in this lunar case, it seems like quite a good idea. I have a query, however, as to the lab requirements for the production of these bacteria and the necessary, eventual spin-offs. Would they not require huge amounts of physical space to generate the acids for breaking down the lunar soil? Though such a setup would be of enormous benefit for future lunar colonists, I would think that this is one requirement that is waaaay, waaaay down on the "must-have" lunar list. John -- www.moonposter.ie I understand that cyanobacteria can be a problem here on Earth concerning Algae Blooms, affect pond and fish life etc., however, in this lunar case, it seems like quite a good idea.
I have a query, however, as to the lab requirements for the production of these bacteria and the necessary, eventual spin-offs. Would they not require huge amounts of physical space to generate the acids for breaking down the lunar soil?
Though such a setup would be of enormous benefit for future lunar colonists, I would think that this is one requirement that is waaaay, waaaay down on the "must-have" lunar list.
John — http://www.moonposter.ie

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