MMM Classics Year 10: MMM #s 91-100 - Moon Society

elements very easily. Pass over it with a magnet to extract all
the pure unoxidized iron particles (“fines”). Apply heat and
extract all the adsorbed Solar Wind gasses: hydrogen, helium,
carbon, nitrogen, neon, argon, xenon, krypton. Other elements
(oxygen, silicon, aluminum, magnesium, calcium, and titanium
and other alloying ingredients) can be extracted with more
difficulty through a number of known processes.
Regolith seems a strange name. Pioneers may shorten
it to ‘lith (‘lith shielding, ‘lith-scaping, ‘lith-moving equipment,
etc.) By whatever name, it will play the major role in
shaping lunar civilization and culture. For moondust is another
very different yet analogous kind of cradle blanket. It will
effectively tuck us in, motheringly, on the Moon.
A tale of 2 Moons
Earth-facing & Earth-oblivious
by Peter Kokh
Relevant Readings from Back Issues of MMM
[MMM Classics #1]
MMM # 9 OCT ‘87, “Farside: Part I”
MMM # 10 NOV ‘87, “Farside: Part II”
[MMM Classics #7]
MMM # 69 OCT ‘93, p 7 “Seven Wonders of the Moon”
[MMM Classics #9]
MMM # 86 JUN ‘95, p 8 “Relayside”
The fact that the Moon keep’s the same hemisphere
forever turned toward Earth, while the other hemisphere is
forever averted from Earth, may well have profound effects on
Lunan culture, markedly distinguishing Nearside and Farside
folk from each other. Much that applies to Nearside applies to
Farside equally (mineral character of the surface, airlessness
and exposure to cosmic weather, low gravity, thermal
extremes, general dehydration, etc.) It is life against these
constraints that will shape the Lunan character in general. But
the presence or absence of Earth over the horizon will
introduce profound differences in the cultural spirit of
Nearsiders and Farsiders.
Nearside: Earth hangs in the black star-filled sky like some
bedazzling jewel filling thirteen times the sky area with some
sixty times the candlepower the Moon in our own skies, phase
for phase. Its ever re-marbling blues, greens, tans, and whites
will make it the prime repository of color in lunar “nature”.
Paradoxically, where the Earth is at a very high angle over the
horizon in central Nearside (the “Crooknecks”), it will be less
obtrusive into daily consciousness than closer to the Nearside
limbs where it hangs comfortably above the horizon (the
“Postcardlands”). Many Nearside homes, offices, schools,
hotels etc. will have windows built to frame the ever changing
and ever fascinating spectacle of Earth.
It is, of course, possible to look at Earth, even study it
from the Moon, just for its beauty and everchanging detail -
without being reminded of the human culture on its surface,
and its overwhelming dominance of the Earth/Moon economic
equation. Some pioneers will be more successful than others in
resisting the intimidation of the spectacle. Others, feeling
Earth’s presence as overbearing, will work the harder to
develop genuinely Lunan forms of culture and expression.
Again, paradoxically, the presence of the Earth may
insert itself most strongly right along the limbs of Nearside
where libration effects sometimes let it slip just below the
horizon (the “Peekaboos”). Here in a broad 14 degree swath
around the Moon from pole to pole where Earth oscillates
above and below the horizon on a four week cycle, there may
arise major settlements involved in the construction and
maintenance of lunar solar power arrays beaming electrical
power Earthwards - as well as a scattering of resorts. For the
Peekaboos in general may become a favorite Lunan honeymoon
destination. Here one can experience alternately, Earth
kissing the horizon, and the rapture of Earthless skies.
Farside: Beyond the limbs (the “Peekaboos”), Earth is out of
sight and out of mind. Lunar Farside is rather turned towards
the “rest of the universe, a universe without Earth”. Its skies
instead are dominated by the unchallenged splendor of the
Milky Way in a glory not yet fully experienced by any human
(excepting brief out-the-porthole glimpses by busy Apollo
astronauts circumnavigating the globe).
Not only will Earth be visually out of sight, without
cable relay to Nearside, or without satellite relays, the home
planet will be out of sight electronically as well. The resulting
“silence” will be an invaluable asset to radio astronomers
attempting to listen to the whispers of the universe in order to
learn more about its structure, and whether or not it harbors
other contemporary and equally curious techno-sapient species.
Terrain-wise, Farside has great impact basins just as
Nearside does. But because the Farside crust is much thicker,
the molten magma from the interior has had less success in
reaching the surface and pooling in great sheets within these
basins - to make “maria”. Farside “seas” are smaller and
scattered in comparison. There is no convenient “chain of seas”
as on Nearside, making long excursions much more difficult.
Farside terrain will be more of a challenge to builders of global
highway networks.
Pioneers will come to Farside not only in the support
of scientific installations like radio astronomy arrays, but for
mineral resources that may conceivably occur there in richer
concentrations than on Nearside. For whatever reason, over
time, Earth being out of sight, out of mind, Farsider culture will
evolve as more fiercely self-reliant, more willing to cut
umbilical ties to Earth, more fascinated with the greater universe
out there, more enraptured by the siren call of the stars.
If we do someday succeed in establishing self-reliant
but interdependent pockets of humanity beyond Earth orbit, to
the point where some sort of “consolar” organization or
association seems called for, a site on the lunar Farside might
command top consideration for a headquarters or solar capital.
Lunar Farside is conveniently close to Earth in travel and
communications terms - and - the vast bulk of humanity will
remain on Earth for the foreseeable future. Yet lunar Farside
Moon Miners’ Manifesto Classics - Year 10 - Republished January 2006 - Page 49