XPost: alt.space, alt.science, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
https://scitechdaily.com/moon-dust-to-power-the-solar-tech-that-could-fuel-spaces-next-giant-leap/
Scientists have created solar cells using simulated Moon
dust, potentially solving one of space exploration’s biggest
challenges: how to generate reliable energy far from Earth.
These new cells, made with perovskite and moonglass, are
lighter, cheaper, and more radiation-resistant than
traditional space solar panels. Even better, they can be
made using lunar materials, drastically reducing launch
costs and making future Moon bases more feasible.
. . .
Interesting ... but how much TROUBLE is it to make
such PV cells ON THE MOON ???
Moon dust is a weird mineral mix (and rather hostile,
basically razor-sharp static-charged shards). All the
Apollo landings were plagued by the stuff - it gets
on and into everything and STICKS there - clogging
and wearing down joint seals and moving parts. Any
longer-term moon base is gonna need to DEAL with
the crap - and the methods still ain't there.
Now if you can, easily, use it to make PV panels
then that's a HELP ... 'dealing' is likely to
require lots of power - so getting power FROM
the dust helps offset the equation.
High radiation tolerance is VERY good for lunar
deployment - nothing to filter raw sun and
solar wind on the moon. However clever use of
light/dark thermal gradients might also yield
a lot of power. "Steam" engines using freons
(no ozone layer on the moon so who cares ?)
are old hat. Bill Lear, of LearJet fame, built
a freon 'steam engine' car - 30 secs from start
to driving.
Note though, that 'lab experiments' don't always
SCALE UP very well. We've heard of a dozen or
more "better" battery designs - which never get
past that square millimeter lab experiment.
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