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Originally Posted by Ara Pacis
Well, it looks like I'm wrong on this one, and I gladly admit it.
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Thank you. I respect you for that.
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Originally Posted by Ara Pacis
But I suspect that lunar dust will be more of a problem for lunar exploration that martian dust will be for Mars exploration.
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From what I have read, the Martian dust is so fine that it would be a problem in several areas. One is that it might be able to work its way into conventional seals, especially seals around rotating parts. Therefore, a new kind of seal may have to be developed. Another thing is that it may cling to clothing, much like talcum powder would, making it difficult to remove the dust when entering the habitat. It might not be healthy to bring that dust into your home. Therefore, special cleansing systems may have to be developed to remove the dust efficiently.
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Originally Posted by Ara Pacis
Psychology in terms of both participants and the public. I'm not referring to the Moon as a Mars analog in this respect, just that the advantages in a lunar base outweigh disadvantage of the failure in analogy.
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I understand. Education is the key to preventing uniformed emotional reactions from preventing the implementation of practical applications.
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Originally Posted by Ara Pacis
The communications lag time is less, allowing for real-time communications when troubleshooting new basic space technology.
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It would be preferable to get the troubleshooting phase over with before taking the equipment to the Moon. The Moon would be a really bad place to “work out the bugs”.
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Originally Posted by Ara Pacis
Establishing an offworld base on the moon will go farther in convincing the public that a Mars colony is feasible.
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True. But establishing a viable colony on Mars would go a lot further.
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Originally Posted by Ara Pacis
If we consider business and the market as strongly driven by psychology, then generating a market for basic space tech by going to the Moon and staying will be enormously helpful in making a Mars trip and colonization later.
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IMO, the best role for the Moon to play in all of this is in providing processed materials for use in Earth orbit, LaGrange points, Mars orbit, and other space vehicles. The less we have to boost from Earth, the more we can explore for the same money.