Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year - Gizmodo Comments

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

yougottabekidding — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:41:35 EST

@king_of_fools: I wouldn't argue with that theory, but then again, a micro meteor could do the same to a 'hardened' shelter, assuming that shelter was made much like the apollo landers. Regardless of type of shelter, I wouldn't want to be the first one to test it out on the moon. Of course, the concept of using fabric housing isn't much different than the fabric spacesuits the astronauts wear.

yougottabekidding

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

king_of_fools — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:20:45 EST

That would be a disaster on the moon ... it would take one micro meteor hitting it to kill everyone inside of it. The moon is laden with craters for a reason.

king_of_fools

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

Hypenotist — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:47:46 EST

You could sex up a cheerleader in that thing as long as you wear your vader mask

Hypenotist

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

infmom — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:36:00 EST

Oh yes, just like the one Walter Koenig got nekkid in in Moontrap.

infmom

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

bugstomper2 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:56:15 EST

I don't know, solar radiation will harden & crack the outside!

bugstomper2

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

mandarin — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:59:09 EST

Well at least you wont drown...

If they do find water in the moon.

mandarin

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

Atrocious — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:41:34 EST

What goes around comes around, eh? Just 36 years ago I was looking at NASA photos of a moon shelter prototype almost identical to this.

Now if they would just bring back the early prototype spacesuits with the "accordion" joints. Or that weird "Grumman Moon Suit".

Atrocious

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

Fierock — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:53:06 EST

Since they will already have the equipment to inflate this on the moon, they should also bring an inflatable castle - in 1/6th G that would be crazy fun.

Fierock

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

FlaminYawn — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:48:54 EST

Yes, i will live on the moon in that thing-- right after my stroll through the jungle in a pork chop overcoat.

FlaminYawn

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

MrMaestr0 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:45:58 EST

@jutman: Are you commenting on this particular invention or the moon mission in general?

I teach high school science and this week we are covering manned spaceflight. It is amazing how little today's high school students know about the Apollo missions. I think a return to the moon and on towards mars would be a giant leap forward for mankind that won't be measurable in dollars.

MrMaestr0

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

cgiddings — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:30:16 EST

@ideaman2020: I would say economics of scale would say that if they create one for all purposes and mass produce them for disaster relief then producing them for use extra-terrestrially would cost less.

Although, I agree it's an inconvenience for a leak on Earth and it's death for a leak in space.

cgiddings

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

ideaman2020 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:44:34 EST

jutman: Portable housing for disaster victims is a great idea but for that use, it could probably stand to be somewhat less resilient [read: cheaper] than stuff going to the Moon.

In a disaster zone, a leak is an inconvenience. On the moon, a leak is a disaster...

ideaman2020

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

NZRUSS — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:43:11 EST

@MrGutts: Are you suggesting the tent they take to the moon should be "penguin proof"?

NZRUSS

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

Joseph — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:25:18 EST

This would be awesome for a snowboarding/skiing trip to a remote mountain.!

Joseph

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

MrGutts — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:08:03 EST

Wonder how many pounds of snow it can with stand before it falls apart. Or 100 penguins poking at it while standing on top of it..

MrGutts

Inflatable Moon Base to be Tested in Antarctica Next Year

jutman — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:05:36 EST

Portable housing for disaster victims would be a much better utilization.

jutman