Nasa Exercise: Lost on the Moon Essay

1. Two 100 pound tanks of oxygen
2. Five gallons of water
3. Stellar map
4. Solar-powered FM transmitter/receiver
5. Food concentrate
6. First-aid kit with hypodermic syringes
7. Fifty feet of nylon rope
8. Parachute silk
9. Signal flares
10. Solar-powered portable heating unit
11. One case of dehydrated milk
12. Two.45 caliber pistols
13. Self-inflating life raft
14. Box of matches
15. Magnetic compass

Essentially, the list of the items left after the ship crash can be divided into several groups according to their importance. The first group would include the items which are absolutely necessary for survival and without which it will be impossible not only to reach the destination but even to start the journey. The second group would contain objects that are not as crucial but would be necessary in case of emergency. Then, objects that have some practical use would fall into the third category. Finally, the fourth group is the one with items with no practical use whatsoever.

The first and second important items are tanks of oxygen and water. No oxygen on the Moon makes it vital to have an external oxygen source; the same goes for water. These are the objects necessary for survival; however, there are also objects that are necessary for the trip, such as the stellar map and the transmitter needed to navigate and communicate with the mother ship. Food concentrate is not as important as water, but still necessary.

Such objects as a first-aid kit, ropes, and signal flares are not vital but can be used in some situations, especially when there is a certain emergency. Signal flares would be hard to use due to the absence of oxygen on the Moon, so they are not high on the list, but they still can be useful with the help of oxygen tanks. The heating unit could be used with the help of solar power, which would not be an easy task, but still possible (How could we live on the moon?). Dehydrated milk and pistols are not of great importance but might have practical use in some situations.

Finally, there are objects that could not serve their purpose on the Moon and thus have no practical use whatsoever. A life raft would be useless due to the absence of water on the surface of the Moon, and the absence of oxygen makes it impossible to use matches. Finally, there is no magnetic field on the Moon, so a compass would not help to navigate.

Reference

How could we live on the moon? (n.d.) IOP Institute of Physics. Web.