[net.space] construction techniques

peterb@pbear.UUCP (02/22/85)

	This may have been discussed previously, but I would like to
	start up a discussion on construction in space, the problems,
	and inventions required.

	Any type of construction is going to require raw materials, and
	the moon has plenty of those. Sun furnaces can be "bootstrapped"
	(i.e. start with very small furnace and melt some rock to form
	a solid material for a large spherical mirror by spinning the
	magna on a plate. light polish the surface and apply a coat of
	aluminum to the surface.(efficiency of reflection is not a
	problem, since there is ample energy available) this larger mirror
	can be used to melt more rock or to run a sterling engine for
	work. Even larger mirrors can be built, none of them optically
	pure, but if they were, the focus would vaporize a lot of things
	that got in its way.

	From here, rock can be melted down and used to create pipes for
	drainage or other low pressure work, larger containers can be cast
	from the rock.


		anybody else have any ideas?

						Peter Barada
						ima!pbear!peterb