Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: Isolated on Mars

Right Attitude Wrong Application

Why do you think the Moon would be a better simulation than anything we could conduct on Earth? The Moon has neither abundant water nore an atmosphere and gravity far less than Mars. LEO is harsher where lower g matters, Earth is harsher where higher G matters. The Moon's temperature extremes are far worse than Mars' but well within simulation capabilities. We could even simulate worse. Mars day is far shorter so the temperature interval of cycling would be worse. We could simulate harsher conditions than either by cycling at the Moon's magnitude over a period as short as Mars'. The Moon's conditions are so different than Mars they could easily result in a focus on the wrong key issues.

The field tests you justifiably feel are more valid than computer simulations are the real application environment not a poor analogue. I'll place my bets on a good physical simulation over a bad analogue for reliable data anyday.

Regards,
Mark

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