Far-reaching lunar ecology

摘要

Sir, The first moonbases could be built using existing craters. A crater 50m across would have aluminium rainforest canopy 'trees', with an internal structure resembling a bird's wingbones. The 'branches' would be slightly curved arch shapes, all designed to maximise strength for a given payload from Earth. These would support a corrugated aluminium roof that would have a layer of impervious butyl on it at three quarters the height of the crater wall all around its periphery. Then a JCB-type machine would gently place lunar regolith from the top of the crater wall on the roof to protect goats, chickens and people from solar radiation events. The middle of the crater would then be glassed over perhaps with a few hanging plastic bags to block micrometeorite punctures temporarily. Then the crops and carp ponds for food and sewage treatment would be established. A small water pond would also probably be a good idea.