[ExI] Self-sufficient space habitat designed

[Damien Broderick]

fwiw:

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1646


SYDNEY: Australian-led scientists have designed a new space habitat 
that might one day allow astronauts on the Moon or Mars to be 90 to 
95 per cent self-sufficient.

The development of such as system could save billions of dollars in 
shuttle trips to re-supply lunar or space colonies and brings closer 
the vision of a human habitat on Mars.

The technology could also have applications on Earth to develop more 
sustainable farming techniques and improve recycling processes.

Luna Gaia

Some systems to recycle water and air have already been developed and 
rudimentary versions are presently used in the International Space 
Station (ISS). However, the proposed new lunar habitat "combines our 
existing knowledge" of physical, chemical and biological processes to 
provide an "overall picture of how a minibiosphere would work," said 
James Chartres, aerospace engineer at the University of Adelaide in 
South Australia. He gave a talk detailing the design at the 
Australian Space Science Conference held in Sydney last month.
[etc etc]

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Btw, does the hazy light around the spots in the illustration imply 
that they have a lot of air escaping? Or is the artist emulating an 
effect produced by (1) the eye, or (b) photon scattering on film or 
digital recorder?

Damien Broderick