Stranded on the moon for 7 days?

I need some help here. I’m taking an astromony class and I can’t figure out which one of these is important. I’m stranded on the moon for 7 days and I need to survive. I have to list from 1-15 of things that are the most important. 1 being the most and 15 being the least. Also I need an explanation to each one as to why it should be this ranking.
Here are the items:
50 ft of nylon rope
Two 110 pound tanks of oxygen, enough of a supply to last for 5 days
One box of wooden matches
Food concentrate
Parachute silk
Portable heating unit
Two .45 caliber pistols
One case of dehydrated Pet brand milk
Stellar map (of the constellations as they appear on the Moon)
Life raft
Magnetic compass
5 gallons of water
Signal flares
First aid kit containing injection needles
Solar-powered FM receiver-transmitter

Remember rank them from 1-15 and I need an explanation for each.
Anyones help would be appreciated :)

Box of matches No oxygen to sustain flame, virtually worthless 15
Food concentrate Efficient means of supplying energy requirements 4
Fifty feet of nylon rope Useful in scaling cliffs, tying injured together 6

Parachute silk Protection from sun’s rays 8
Solar-powered portable heating unit Not needed unless on dark side 13
Two .45 caliber pistols Possible means of self-propulsion 11
One case of Pet milk Bulkier duplication of food concentrate 12
Two 100-pound tanks of oxygen Most pressing survival need 1
Stellar map (of the moon’s constellations) Primary means of navigation 3
Self-inflating life raft CO2 bottle in military raft may be used for propulsion 9
Magnetic compass Magnetic field on moon is not polarized; worthless for
navigation 14
5 gallons of water Replacement for tremendous liquid loss on lighted side 2
Signal flares Distress signal when mother ship is sighted 10
First-aid kit injection needles Needles for vitamins, medicines, etc., will fit special aperture in NASA space suits 7
Solar-powered FM
receiver-transmitter For communication with mother ship; but FM requires
line-of-sight transmission and short ranges 5

These are the correct answers, I did this is class one time.

4 Responses

  1. Astronomygoon Says:

    Rope, could be useful

    Oxygen, top priority, but it’s only five days supply which means you should be sleeping as much as possible to converse air.

    Matches-Worthless due to no atmosphere

    Food-Yea it’ll be good, the human body can go longer without food than water however.

    Silk-I can’t really think of a good reason to keep it..

    Portable heating unit-Hmm, maybe..if you have a pressurized suit it would be kind of worthless, if you are in a structure it would be a little more handy.

    Guns-Well, if you run out of oxygen those pistols will look pretty friendly, your death will be messy but quick at least.

    Milk-I wouldn’t take it..you’ll have the water to drink.

    Stellar map-The constellations look just the same on the Moon than they do the Earth. It would be okay if you need to travel, I wouldn’t since that would exert yourself and waste oxygen.

    Raft-I guess if you want to surf down a crater like in the second Indiana Jones movie..

    Compass-Worthless, no magnetic field on the Moon

    Water-Oh yea..bring it all!

    Signal Flares-Worthless, the flare itself would be very very weak, assuming it does work due to no air oxygen.

    Solar Powered Radio-Well this is a toss up, if you are on the Moon during the night then it’s worthless. If it’s during the day then it’s more useful.

    The water and air will be your biggest priorities. I’m sort of thinking if you can use some of the water for electrolysis to get some more oxygen but I’m not to sure how much you’ll be able to get out of it. Anyways I’ve given you some reason for taking and leaving things behind. I think you can number them on your own. Good luck!
    References :

  2. justbeingher Says:

    1. Two 110 pound tanks of oxygen, enough of a supply to last for 5 days
    2. 5 gallons of water
    3. Food concentrate
    All the above are essential to survival.

    4. Portable heating unit – MAY work if your space suit does not keep temp regulate. But how it is powered?
    5. 50 ft of nylon rope – Maybe keep things tied down that you need.
    6. Stellar map (of the constellations as they appear on the Moon) May keep your mind occupied.
    7. Signal flares USELESS IN NO OXYGEN ENVIROMENT – AND FIRE HAZARD TO OXYGEN CANISTERS
    8. First aid kit with injection needles – MAY be useless as you can’t open your space suit.
    9. Parachute silk – no use I can think of.
    10. Life raft TOTALLY USELESS
    11. Magnetic compass USELESS
    12. Two .45 caliber pistols USELESS – WHAT WOULD YOU SHOOT?
    13. Solar-powered FM receiver-transmitter USELESS NO FM IN SPACE
    14. One case of dehydrated Pet brand milk GROSS – WHO DRINKS THAT CRAP – USE UR FOOD CONCENTRATE
    15. One box of wooden matches USELESS – NO FIRES IN NO OXYGEN ENVIRONMENT – AND NEVER AROUND OXYGEN CANISTERS
    References :

  3. David H Says:

    There’s something wrong here. The moon has no atmosphere, so you need more than 5 days’ supply if you’re going to be there for 7. Besides, oxygen on its own is not good enough. If you breathe nothing but pure oxygen you’ll quickly be incapable of using any of the other 14 things. If you can persuade them to swap one of your oxygens for one tank of nitrogen and one of carbon dioxide, go for it!

    For that reason I won’t rank the things 1 to 15, but I give you these comments:
    Rope – useful for climbing around craters
    matches – useless with no oxygen-bearing atmosphere
    Food concentrate – fairly important, though you can survive 3 weeks without any
    parachute silk – useless without atmosphere
    heater – only if you’re on the dark side. On the lit side, you’ll fry
    Pistols – one is enough for suicide after your oxygen gives out, otherwise nothing else there to shoot
    dehydrated milk – useful food addition
    stellar map – something to do, and helpful to the rescue team to find you
    life raft – useless. No free water on the moon
    compass – probably useless – the moon does not have a dipolar magnetic field
    water – vital to survival beyond 3 days
    signal flares – essential, I’d have though, if nobody knows you’re there
    first aid kit – you might need plasters and bandages, but I can’t think what you’d need to inject yourself with
    radio – definitely!
    References :

  4. Kyle Says:

    Box of matches No oxygen to sustain flame, virtually worthless 15
    Food concentrate Efficient means of supplying energy requirements 4
    Fifty feet of nylon rope Useful in scaling cliffs, tying injured together 6
    Parachute silk Protection from sun’s rays 8
    Solar-powered portable heating unit Not needed unless on dark side 13
    Two .45 caliber pistols Possible means of self-propulsion 11
    One case of Pet milk Bulkier duplication of food concentrate 12
    Two 100-pound tanks of oxygen Most pressing survival need 1
    Stellar map (of the moon’s constellations) Primary means of navigation 3
    Self-inflating life raft CO2 bottle in military raft may be used for propulsion 9
    Magnetic compass Magnetic field on moon is not polarized; worthless for
    navigation 14
    5 gallons of water Replacement for tremendous liquid loss on lighted side 2
    Signal flares Distress signal when mother ship is sighted 10
    First-aid kit injection needles Needles for vitamins, medicines, etc., will fit special aperture in NASA space suits 7
    Solar-powered FM
    receiver-transmitter For communication with mother ship; but FM requires
    line-of-sight transmission and short ranges 5

    These are the correct answers, I did this is class one time.
    References :
    This site also has the answers ——-> http://www.kathimitchell.com/moonans.htm

Leave a Comment

Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.