When On the Moon and Mars, Move Underground 294
astroengine writes "Recent observations of the lunar and martian surface are turning up multiple discoveries of 'skylights' — collapsed roofs of hollow rilles or lava tubes. These holes into ready-made underground bunkers could provide ideal shelter for future manned bases on the two worlds. Firstly, they would provide shelter from the barrage of micrometeorites, solar x-rays and deep space cosmic rays. Secondly, they'd help protect our burgeoning colonists from the extreme swings in surface temperature (on the moon, temperatures vary by 500 degrees F, but inside these lava tubes, the environment remains at a fairly constant -35 degrees). Thirdly, the sci-fi notion of underground space cities could become a reality."
Why bother? (Score:4, Funny)
It's a hell of a lot cheaper and easier to live underground on earth.
Why are we still talking about this? (Score:5, Funny)
I thought we agreed to kill any NASA funding that looked like it might be headed towards progress?
(captcha: realist)
Zapp Brannigan on Operation Moon Settlement (Score:5, Funny)
President Nixon, I present to you a new settlement and planet completely safe and devoid of the once furry stubby armed moon mole people!
"We'll just take refuge in this old lava tube..." (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"We'll just take refuge in this old lava tube.. (Score:1, Funny)
Staring Vin Diesel.
Re:radiation and solar flares a serious problem (Score:5, Funny)
Duh! You just travel at night!
Re:radiation and solar flares a serious problem (Score:5, Funny)
Re:500 degrees F (Score:1, Funny)
Someone wanna translate this into units of measurement used by, oh I dunno, the entire rest of the world?
How about you convert the unit via the search engine used by oh, I dunno, the entire rest of the world? (except for China)
Or how about this - land a person on the Moon and return them safely, and we'll bitch about your using metric. Now go back to playing your vuvuzela and watching SOCCER.
Re:Why bother? (Score:5, Funny)
That's exactly why I live in my parent's basement!
Re:500 degrees F (Score:2, Funny)
Someone wanna translate this into units of measurement used by, oh I dunno, the entire rest of the world?
Imagine ice that freezes at the temperature that our water boils. And then bring that to a boil. And then stick your face in the steam.
about 5 maxed out P4 cpu's (Score:5, Funny)
about 5 maxed out P4 cpu's
First Internet, now Moon and Mars (Score:4, Funny)
It all boils down to a system of tubes?
Opportunity for Slashdotters (Score:4, Funny)
Space colonists will be selected from a population conditioned to survive underground for extended periods.
Their parents' basement.
Re:For those of you watching in metric: -37C (Score:4, Funny)
Re:"We'll just take refuge in this old lava tube.. (Score:4, Funny)
Ready to occupy (Score:5, Funny)
So basically people from Minnesota could just move there.
What sci-fi are you reading (Score:3, Funny)
Because the stuff I've read clearly calls for moon settlements to have transparent glass domes.
Re:Why bother? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:about 5 maxed out P4 cpu's (Score:2, Funny)
How many burning libraries of Congress is that?
Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)
Written with a straight face? (Score:3, Funny)
"...ready-made underground bunkers could provide ideal shelter..."
said ideal shelters detected by collapsed roofs.
Exogeologist: "Look at that collapsed cave! We could live in there."
Pilot: "Sure, you go in first perfesser."
This beats the astronauts' old "built by the lowest bidder" grumbles all to hell.