Space colonization strategies.

[chamilton333]

Originally Posted by Rebiu

Good point. Underground living is essential as it will take about 6 feet of lunar soil to adequately protect for radiation.

and yet more questions: what if lunar soil cant be burrowed through? that it would collapse behind the burrowing machine? and if we reach the core of the moon, will it be the same as on earth? could we use the heat for energy, if the crust is easier to break through? and, if we couldnt, where would we get electricity? gas would be hard to ship, and is there oil on the moon? could we eventually make the moon just as habitable as earth, minus pollution? and also, even if we get these problems solved, would it even be that great? the moon is only the size of africa and australia combined(38 million km2) and by the time we even get to the moon, it will be immeadiatly overcrowded by people, because of the immense number of people by then.

[Jay-qu]

Im pretty sure the Earths core is so hot because of the enourmous pressures due to gravity, the moon has no where near as much mass, hence the pressure due to gravity would be a lot smaller which means not much heat. Do a search on it, report back what you find

[Eclogite]

Earth's internal heat is the result of residual heat of formation and radioactive decay. The moon is cooler because it is a smaller body and so can lose heat faster. (The same reason that lwarm blooded land animals very much larger than an elephant would cook themselves when they exercised.)

[Rebiu]

Originally Posted by chamilton333

what if lunar soil cant be burrowed through? that it would collapse behind the burrowing machine?

There is current technology that allows the sintering of the walls using electric inductive and microwave heating. These same techniques allow for the fabrication of internal structures as needed.

Originally Posted by chamilton333

and if we reach the core of the moon, will it be the same as on earth? could we use the heat for energy, if the crust is easier to break through? and, if we couldnt,

I recall that the moon is no longer volcanically active and therefore this heat would not be brought to the surface by volcanic action where it can be accessed.

Originally Posted by chamilton333

where would we get electricity? gas would be hard to ship, and is there oil on the moon? could we eventually make the moon just as habitable as earth,

The moon has much solar potential. The problem is dealing with the weeks long solar cycle. Some suggest that a solar powered electrical grid that circles the planet could provide electrical continuous electrical power. Orbiting mirrors could provide continuous light to solar arrays through the lunar night. Nuclear power may be an option in the beginning.

Originally Posted by chamilton333

minus pollution? and also, even if we get these problems solved, would it even be that great?

I think it will be fantastic.

Originally Posted by chamilton333

the moon is only the size of africa and australia combined(38 million km2) and by the time we even get to the moon, it will be immeadiatly overcrowded by people, because of the immense number of people by then.

I recall that 90 percent of the people on earth live on 2 percent of the land. Earth is not anywhere near being overcrowded.
The real issues are

1. food and water; This will require food production technology superior to sowing and harvesting terrestrial crops and livestock. I suggest algae grown in clear pipes in a solar panel then pumped into processing units. These could possible be self contained units so that every structure and vehicle has the capacity to produce all the food the occupants need.
2. Living quarters close to opportunities; People will probable live in vertically arrayed conditions as they are much more efficient in all aspects. The lack of atmosphere would allow for virtually unlimited high speed trains, imagine a train than could accelerate to orbital speed.
3. Pollution from energy use; Air pollution is not an issue. The lunar dust may be the greatest threat as it degrades seals and is harmful to human lungs. Since most resources will be repeatedly reticulated I doubt man polluting practices will be adopted.