Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!ndcheg!uceng!dmocsny
From: dmocsny@uceng.UC.EDU (daniel mocsny)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: 1992 moon base
Summary: Huddled underground.
Message-ID: <698@uceng.UC.EDU>
Date: 15 Feb 89 07:34:14 GMT
References: <1989Feb13.074530.17504@cs.rochester.edu> <646@m3.mfci.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati, College of Engg.
Lines: 19

In article <646@m3.mfci.UUCP>, rodman@mfci.UUCP (Paul Rodman) writes:
> Are the people in Antartica doing research useless or pointless because they
> are "huddled underground"?

During the Antartic summer, the research bases maintain staff levels
about ten times as high as in the winter. Wintering over in Antarctica
is not great fun. Going outside is nearly impossible. 50--100 mph
winds blow almost constantly. Temperatures are cold enough to
immediately freeze any exposed flesh. The staffs undergo great
psychological stress from the confinement. The typical 10:1
male:female sex ratios also cause problems (though one suspects that
grad school should have adequately prepared the staffs :-).

To the extent the Antarctic winter is similar to life on the moon, the
experiences of the staffs provide valuable information on the prospects
for sustaining communities there.

Dan Mocsny
dmocsny@uceng.uc.edu