Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

DARPA aims to build a lunar railroad in its latest effort to establish a human colony on the Moon
The Blaze ^ | March 23, 2024 | Collin Jones

Posted on 03/25/2024 8:13:03 AM PDT by Twotone

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last
To: Twotone

Hire Elon Musk and the Boring Company to plan and build tunnels on the Moon. They’ll get it done for one-hundredth the cost. Heck, Musk probably already finished the plans and can provide it to DARPA for free.


41 posted on 03/25/2024 11:22:33 AM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeganC
Now they’re looking at a four hour trip from SF to LA if it ever gets built.
May as well fly.

Sounds about right. I have flown often from SF to LA and back. About a 45 minute flight. In the old days, was easy with no TSA to contend with. And I would sometimes drive, between 7 to 8 hours.

The stupid "high-speed" train will be stuck in the first 50 miles in and out of SF and LA, making it a 4 to 6 hour trip. Much easier to just fly and do it in a quarter of the elapsed time, unless you drive and spend a few more hours. The train is a complete waste of taxpayer money.

42 posted on 03/25/2024 11:30:28 AM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Twotone

“a human colony on the Moon”

A prototype 15 minute village?


43 posted on 03/25/2024 11:31:02 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Twotone

Light rail to connect all the high density housing with major lunar employment centers..


44 posted on 03/25/2024 11:33:49 AM PDT by RitchieAprile (available monkeys looking for the change..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Twotone

This must be tied to the presence of H3 (the perfect fusion reactor fuel) being found in large quantities, concentrated in the regolith on the surface of the moon


45 posted on 03/25/2024 11:37:12 AM PDT by oil_dude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Twotone

Wonder where they are going to cut the cross ties?


46 posted on 03/25/2024 11:54:18 AM PDT by Flint
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEGator
>The Moon is a Harsh Mistress…

As an open ended cargo launcher, VERY fast, but short, lunar rail likely makes sense. With the caveat that the flight plan needs to be VERY secure. Why, well read the wonderful book!!! But as a way to send cargo into lunar orbit or even even back to earth it probably is the cheapest and most sustainable option from the Moon. And IF we ever establish a permanent settlement there, which my Heinlein infused childhood dreams encourage, we will want such. And the effort required to accomplish the former likely wouldn't require much more expense to provide that. Now whether rail links between separate lunar bases are cost effective or not depends on the distance. Might make more sense to launch into low lunar orbit and come back down at the destination.

47 posted on 03/25/2024 11:57:21 AM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Biden/Harris events are called dodo ops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: JohnBovenmyer

I’m still waiting for resource gathering from asteroids…


48 posted on 03/25/2024 12:02:55 PM PDT by EEGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Twotone

Why not a bullet-train?

Let’s put that thing in orbit.

Too bad Evel Knievel isn’t around to see it.


49 posted on 03/25/2024 2:54:43 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEGator

We have a planned but not yet launched mission to asteroid Psyche. If it lives up to to expectations and we can figure how to harvest its resources all the gold bugs will be broke.


50 posted on 03/25/2024 5:47:20 PM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Biden/Harris events are called dodo ops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson