- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Okay, I've read all five frikkin pages of this beast of a forum, and I tell you it's completely possible! My bro is into robotics and I'm in the Air Force. Here's what you need to do. Design a few robots, the first a mining robot with a 360 degree propulsion system, mining manipulators, and low g magnetic "legs" to attach to the surface of your project or the surface of the moon. The second robot would be a repair "droid" whose only purpose is to diagnos and repair the other droids. (All droids must have the 360 degree propulsion system and magnetic legs). Then you need to make a few more mission specific droids to assist with other aspects of the project (for example, a refueling droid meant to refuel droids out on the field or in space). You then need to design a station that has enough room to store your droids, fueling and recharge stations, and boosters equipped to the station that would keep it in orbit. The station needs radar and ports/airlocks to dock with ground to space vehicles. Then you need a reuseable transport spacecraft capable of moon to lunar orbit travel and return while carrying several thousand pounds of lunar rocks. It wouldn't be a bad idea to also design a ground to space vehicle that can deliver parts and fuel to the station, although if you made it non-reusable your droids could actually transfer both the cargo and parts used in the construction of the resupply craft as spares, that way you don't have to worry about re-entry. There's another 2 droids you would need, a droid that specializes in cargo movement/unpacking and processing and another that would be mission specific to take the space vehicle apart, although you may be able to use the mining droid for that. Don't forget that is you make several different droids you'll be able to sell more of then than if you made just one all purpose droid. You should also look into some kind of mech suit for pilots to wear that could actually make loaded jumps from the moon to the work site and back.You then need to calculate a legrange point in space where your project may go undisturbed by satellites or other debris. You start by creating a ring skeleton, or frame, the droids could then attach the mined rocks, then the glass exterior, and finally the interior. Don't spin the ring (if you were still going to) until everything is put together and fully operational, that way the zero g droids won't become damaged while working. Next you need to create a "mission control" ground based system to monitor and if necessary intervene with computer actions. You then need to get a team together that can make calculations of that magnitude on station 24/7. ( I would suggest 3 crews fully trained, 2 take 12 hour shifts while the third is off on emergency standby; you could rotate the three shifts to ensure your crew is well rested.) Okay, the next thing you need to do is actually build all of this crap, which is the hard part. I volunteer, and know that's a whole lot to read, but it's a lot of info, and there's a lot more so if you want some help e-mail me. I'll help design/program what I can if you want, but I'll probably not be able to check this forum again because it'll get lost so e-mail me at animefreakjon@hotmail.com I'll start working on designs for the station and droids in case you're interested. (Also, I don't know if you plan on sending a crew up there with the droids to assist in daily operations but it would probably be a good idea, so I'll design two stations, one droid only and the other with accomodations for up to five crew members.)