Zee2A OP t1_j2edbys wrote
Solar power can offer a superior alternative to nuclear fission for generating oxygen on the moon .This would require "six times less mass to produce the same amount of energy" as the best nuclear option, says the professor: https://interestingengineering.com/science/solar-power-generating-oxygen-moon
Study Published in March 2022: 'Uninterrupted photovoltaic power for lunar colonization without the need for storage' : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148122001550
forestapee t1_j2elurf wrote
I'm wondering how the panels would hold up to debris impacts on the moon long term. Lots more protection on Earth
_off_piste_ t1_j2erqax wrote
What about the abrasive nature of moon dust? I know there’s no wind like on Earth and Mars but it seems like travel to install and other operations will have an effect on how much is in the atmosphere.
dern_the_hermit t1_j2ezy61 wrote
Moon dust won't linger off the ground like it would in an atmosphere. You kick dust up and it falls right back down.
Which isn't to suggest it's not a concern, just that there's not going to be big billowing clouds that linger for any appreciable amount of time.
Loon013 t1_j2f81tx wrote
There is evidence that lunar dust may be elevated by electromagnetic forces. Differences in potential can arise between day lit and dark areas.
dern_the_hermit t1_j2f8la4 wrote
True, but that phenomenon can be used to our advantage (.pdf warning) to repel dust as well.
Loon013 t1_j2f9d2t wrote
I agree, but that will require some more mass and energy to implement. Those requirements will be considerable on the scale of a polar solar ring.
dern_the_hermit t1_j2fa17w wrote
I think it would be trivial in comparison to the whole project. I mean, it's no secret that just about every aspect of a megastructure is definitionally huge.
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