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Extraterrestrial dry run

Let's see if it'd all work out...
 
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Antarctica is one of the most hostile places on Earth to live. No food; unbelievable temperatures; a hole in the ozone layer allowing in abnormal amounts of radiation.

The perfect place to try out a non-earthly colony.

This would be similar to the 'Biosphere 2' project, but on a grander scale. Prototypes of lunar and martian colonies could be sent here, and via remote control, we could test our designs.

From a ship nearby (with an emergency hospital just in case something goes wrong), the 'lander' is launched. The 'astronauts' have been in the lander, isolated aside from mock-radio broadcasts, for one to six months (depending on if it is a lunar or martian mission being tested). Now, they have to take the robotically-built station, and get it in some condition fit for human habitation.

The costs for this 'dry run' will be great -- but not as great as sending a dozen lives to another planet, only to have to see them die due to an easily preventable, but overlooked problem.

Almafeta, Nov 29 2003

Overview of the Neumayer Antarctic Research Station http://216.239.57.1...ions&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Described as two, 8 ft diameter steel tubes, 90 ft long, in which are housed separate containers for living quarters and work facilities. Except for the steel part, this already reads like the description of a space station. [Tiger Lily, Oct 04 2004]

(?) Mars Society's Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station http://www.spaceref...ww.marssociety.org/
[waugsqueke, Oct 04 2004]


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       Ever been to Biosphere II? They spent a lot of money getting that one right, and it wasn't exactly what you'd call a smashing success. When I went, I was amused to find the place where the ants got in and out.
darksasami, Nov 29 2003
  

       The book Red Mars had something like this. I can't remeber if it actually had a sealed enviroment or if it was just for psycological testing of the colonists though so I'm slightly reluctant to call this previously halfbaked.
RobertKidney, Nov 30 2003
  

       Baked by Robert Zubrin and the Mars Society. They've been doing this off and on since 1999, on Devon Island in Canada's Arctic, though, not Antarctica. (link)
waugsqueke, Nov 30 2003
  

       //No spiders in Antartica//   

       I saw on The Discovery Channel the other day that there are rats in antartica. I wonder how those bloody oportunists can manage to live there...
Pericles, Nov 30 2003
  


 

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