Comments on: Stranded on the moon for 7 days?

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:16:59 +0000

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

By: David H

David H — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:56:59 +0000

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 :

By: justbeingher

justbeingher — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:26:59 +0000

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 :

By: Astronomygoon

Astronomygoon — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:53:59 +0000

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 :