A steam-powered moon buggy may assist humans as they colonize the moon, a new report suggests. Although this may seem like a steampunk-inspired fantasy at a science fiction convention, the idea does have some merit.
Mining water from the lunar poles, as well as asteroids, could provide a supply of inexpensive fuel for explorers as they travel around our planetary companion. The hydrogen and oxygen extracted from that water could even be utilized by engines sending spacecraft and satellites from one location to another.
"We need to stop relying on our own planet for resources. We can use near Earth asteroids for solar thermal steam propulsion directly. It's a very simple system and could help small spacecraft refuel in space. It's also very practical to use on a planet," Phil Metzger of the University of South Florida said to attendees at a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society held in London.
Steam engines on Earth depend on pressure from the heated vapor to push on cylinders, usually turning a piston. For use in space, steam would be heated by energy from solar panels and sent out of an exhaust, driving the vehicle to its intended destination.
Researchers at the Swamp Works team working for NASA have been devising methods to take full advantage of the resources available on the moon.
The moon only has roughly 17 percent of the gravity found here on Earth. Because of this, only a small impulse is required to send a vehicle forward.
As humans continue on a quest to land a human crew on Mars, many researchers are starting to view the moon as an important base to the Red Planet. A rocket leaving Earth for Mars would be up to 68 percent lighter if astronauts picked up material on the moon before venturing on to their main target.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced plans to build a lunar habitat from materials found on the moon, utilizing a 3D printer. This plan is currently scheduled to begin sometime in the mid-2030s.
Robotic probes sent to the moon could explore the lunar surface to ice deposits, which may be utilized for fuel and oxygen for life support. Other minerals discovered during these missions could also be used for shelter, fuel and other purposes. Even on Mars, a 150-pound vehicle powered by steam could travel 18 miles before needing to be refueled.
A human mission to Mars becomes significantly easier, and less expensive, if supplies are picked up on the moon, And a steam-powered moon buggy may provide a means of quickly collecting needed materials.
