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A comment on Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video]. Parent comment

Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by orky56 on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @03:45PM (#12592475)
Why does the Mars 24.5 hr day versus the Moons 28 day-day matter? What are the consequences of this big difference between Earth day and the moon/Mars day?
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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by Symmetry on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @04:38PM (#12592955)
For constant power on Mars you need 2 kg of batteries for every 1 kg of solar panels. On the moon you need 50+ kg.
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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by exDM69 on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @04:26PM (#12592849)
14 consecutive days of darkness in the moon creates issues with solar energy, heating, etc.
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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by skykooler on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @03:52PM (#12592536)
24.5 hours matches our circadian cycle. On the Moon extra power would be necessary for artificial lighting.
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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by aetherson on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @04:00PM (#12592607)
I don't think that lighting is going to be the difference between a viable and unviable non-terran colony.
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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by ygjb-dupe on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @05:10PM (#12593255)
I think you underestimate the importance and cost of the artificial lighting :P

On the moon it means you need enough solar power in batteries to power your gear, and to power appropriate spectrum lighting for plant growth.

If you can rely on solar power more reliably, then you can construct (significantly more complex than those required on earth) green houses which still benefit from natural light.

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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by aetherson on Tuesday September 27, 2016 @05:27PM (#12593382)
In all fairness, my parent poster was talking about human circadian rhythms, not greenhouses.

I actually agree that there are numerous challenges associated with very long days and nights. Artificial lighting per se is not among them. Solar power is a reasonable one.

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Re:Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species [video] by zardo on Wednesday September 28, 2016 @11:38PM (#12603137)
The temperature swings on the moon are a major engineering challenge. 500f difference between noon and midnight.
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