Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 11:43:41 -0700
From: Mark Eidemiller
Subject: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
Hi, All.
I like this. I love hearing everybody discuss the technical side of Alpha.
Even if it is sometimes theoretical, it's great!
I'd eventually like to summarize this for the record. Would make
interesting reading, possibly end up posting it to Marcy's technical site.
Here's a couple of things I'd like your input on:
(1) What has been reported on the actual series, and in any tech manuals,
regarding the main systems of Alpha? I speak of food productions and
processing, water, atmosphere, and anything else I have temporarily forgotten.
(2) If we were to create a Moonbase Alpha TODAY, what improvements would we
like (not assuming, though, that the moon would be blasted out of orbit in
three years and sent careening into the universe...)
Any takers?
In His Service,
Mark Eidemiller
skylab@e-z.net
(The Doormat) http://www.e-z.net/~skylab/index.html
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 13:00:38 -0700
From: Amardeep_Chana@xn.xerox4tag.com (Chana,Amardeep)
Subject: RE: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
Color monitors. Definately color monitors. Also, Main Computer would
be replaced by a Unix server and everybody would have workstations
running Windows99.
There would be ordinary liquid fuel powered backup generators for those
times when pesky mysterious forces rob Alpha of its power. Hydrazine
would be a good choice since it doesn't require an oxidizer.
The building code would require that heavy steel beams not be hung over
main mission, as they come crashing down every time something nearby explodes.
Main mission would have seatbelts.
Outside windows would have a pull down metal pane in case the glass cracks.
Medical center would not have free standing shelves with sharp objects on them.
There would be a LARGE supply of tiranium locked in a very big steel vault.
Real security guards. Trained personally by Chuck Norris.
Spear guns and trap doors. Too many aliens are just not affected by lasers.
Amardeep
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 19:58:57 -0700
From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu)
Self-Proclaimed Doormat Mark Eidemiller asks:
> (1) What has been reported on the actual series, and in any tech manuals,
> regarding the main systems of Alpha? I speak of food productions and
> processing, water, atmosphere, and anything else I have temporarily forgotten.
They made it up as they went along.
Especially after Fred took charge.
"This week we need a records section."
"This week we need a pigeon farm."
"This week we need a vacuum chamber."
> (2) If we were to create a Moonbase Alpha TODAY, what improvements would we
> like (not assuming, though, that the moon would be blasted out of orbit in
> three years and sent careening into the universe...)
Chief Engineer Amardeep responds:
> There would be ordinary liquid fuel powered backup generators for those
> times when pesky mysterious forces rob Alpha of its power. Hydrazine
> would be a good choice since it doesn't require an oxidizer.
What? Power from unimolecular decomposition? That sounds terribly
inefficient, just like the early Nazi rockets powered by the decomposition of
hydrogen peroxide! If the mysterious forces can divert nuclear energy,
what is to stop them from diverting chemical energy or solar energy?
For backup power, how about a large population of squirrels running on
treadwheels?
> The building code would require that heavy steel beams not be hung over
> main mission, as they come crashing down every time something nearby explodes.
Should everybody wear hardhats and steel-toed boots?
> Main mission would have seatbelts.
Oh, so you are planning on the moon being blasted away?
> Outside windows would have a pull down metal pane in case the glass cracks.
Actually, one realistic improvement Fred F. made in Year2 was moving
Alpha more underground. You didn't see many windows in Year2 did you?
This is because of micrometeors in space. A real moon base would be
buried under a protective layer of moon soil. I'm not sure how thick this
would be. Alpha as seen in Year1 would be continually taking hits from
rocks falling on it. Here on earth, our atmosphere protects us, burning
up all but the largest chunks of space trash. The moon is naked against
this threat, so Alpha should be buried. Doors, windows, and launch pads
and other structures exposed to the surface would be heavily protected.
> Medical center would not have free standing shelves with sharp objects on them
Agreed. All bottles will be bouncy plastic, not the hard glass that clinked
as they hit the floor when Lee Russel shoved & shocked Dr. Mathias into them.
It's funny that this happened twice in one episode to poor old Dr. Bob. He
took all the punishment that Helena attracted.
> There would be a LARGE supply of tiranium locked in a very big steel vault.
And enough eagles fueled and ready standing by on pads to quickly return
everybody to earth at any moment.
> Real security guards. Trained personally by Chuck Norris.
Expendable attack dogs too.
To enforce Koenig's steel fisted rule onto everybody.
> Spear guns and trap doors. Too many aliens are just not affected by lasers.
Meat cleavers and saws too, so the alphans can have fresh meat.
Ronald
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 17:48:07 -0700
From: gwr@easy44net.co.uk (Gareth Randall)
Subject: RE: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
>Color monitors. Definately color monitors. Also, Main Computer would
> be replaced by a Unix server and everybody would have workstations
> running Windows99.
Hopefully, that would be Win99 with the *debugged* magnetic radiation
detection app. Additionally, I'd make sure that the computers made more than
about four different noises whenever a key was pressed (eight should do it).
I'd also ban flares on the grounds of extreme silliness.
Gareth
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 20:18:36 -0700
From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com
Subject: Re: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
>I'd also ban flares on the grounds of extreme silliness.
Are you talking about flared pants here, Gareth? My UK to USA dictionary is
AOK, but I could use a clarification, FYI.
Robert
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 05:40:18 -0700
From: gwr@easy44net.co.uk (Gareth Randall)
Subject: Re: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
Yes! Although we'd call them "trousers", because pants are what you wear
under your trousers!
Gareth
[EDITOR'S NOTE: From here out, gets way... er... off subject.]
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 09:44:06 -0700
From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com
Subject: Re: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
Who says I wear ANYTHING under my trousers! :)
We call "flares" "bell bottoms" or "bell bottom pants" here in the States.
What you call "pants" we call "underwear," "briefs," "bikini briefs"
"Jockeys" (Jockey brand underwear), "Calvins" (Calvin Klein brand underwear),
and some older people call them "skivvies" (and think they're being really
funny when they do).
Any other regional silly names for "pants"? How about in Alabama, Van?
Texas, Jeanette? Anywhere, anybody?
By the way, no pun intended with the SUBJECT line of this message -- I'm sure
that's not the kind of support the originator meant!
Robert
With the News from America
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 10:48:51 -0700
From: "John R. Prewitt" (termie@a44quest.com)
Subject: Re: Moonbase Alpha lifesupport systems
Pants. Here in Indiana they're just called pants...and people
wonder why you out of state types call us boring.
-John (native of Indiana)
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 11:29:59 -0700
From: baldas@mbox.vol4tag.it (Roberto Baldassari)
Subject: Off Topic: UNDERWEAR
> Any other regional silly names for "pants"? How about in Alabama, Van?
> Texas, Jeanette? Anywhere, anybody?
Here in Italy we call them MUTANDE or SLIP or BOXER !!!
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 00:23:15 -0700
From: zarf@cml4tag.com (Zarf Vreex)
Subject: Re: Off Topic: UNDERWEAR
In Canada, we call them "fruit of the looms", "ginch", or "gotchies".
Zarf
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 06:25:14 -0700
From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu)
Yes, but are any of these names gender specific?
Are "bloomers" only women's "undies" or do they include men's too?
Ronald
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 17:32:55 -0700
From: gwr@easy44net.co.uk (Gareth Randall)
Subject: Re:
Here in the UK, "bloomers" is only used when referring to old-fashioned
pantaloon-style undies worn by old women - unless someone else knows different!
Gareth