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t1_j2eh8ec wrote

The article says they propose building a large ring of solar panels above the 88th parallel, so enough solar panels to always have half in sunlight and half in darkness.

I think fission is much more sensible.

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t1_j2eit4d wrote

I'm wondering how THAT would possibly use less mass

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t1_j2ekexw wrote

I'm guessing over-estimates on the lunar nuclear solution, best case estimates for solar panel mass, and sidestepping the problem of volume for that many solar panels. Oh and don't forget to pack 10km (!) of transmission line.

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t1_j2eq9nd wrote

My napkin says it's probably more like 400 km of transmission line.

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t1_j2fsy3l wrote

I wonder if the assumption is a lot of the materials for solar panels could be harvested from the moon fairly easily?

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t1_j2fuooo wrote

You would not get anything from the moon material wise easily. Without having infrastructure in place to do it. So no.

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t1_j2euv14 wrote

They would need a lot of cable to make that work.

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