h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It appears that Col. Ramon was not religious, but was attempting to show respect to those in Israel who are relitious by keeping kosher and observing the Sabbath (which proved to be a real issue with some scholars who wanted to know when it would be sabbath since the shuttle goes around the Earth and experiences a sundown and sunrise every 90 minutes).

That would be quite a debate about the Sabbath! And the days and nights in space.

I assume they would use Houston time, whilst on board?

Yikes, that is quite a mind tingler. And what about the muslim Ramadan? You'd be able to eat throughout the day but only when in exlipse. Glad I'm a Christian and can eat whatever whenever!


Nick

I read in a news report a day or two after Columbia launched that he consulted with a rabbi and was told to use Huston time. I wonder, when humans colonize the solar system, what time would people on mercury use for religious things? Would they use earth time, or see the sabbath as comming every seventh mercury day, whihc would mean around once a year. And immagian trying to observe the muslim ramadan fast if you used mercury sunrise and sundown.

Somehow, I can't ever see people colonizing Mercury...it's hot enough there to melt lead.

Do you mean Mars?

I meant Mercury.
Mars has a rotation period of 24.5 hours

Mercury is only hot near the surface. If we dig under ground, it would be possible to keep cool. Since mercury turns so slowly, one could land a ship near the sunset terminator and dig a bas under ground. repeat until done. It would be expensive to build and cool but it would be worth it. Mercury has lots of metals, some of whcih are thought to be quite near the surface. THis would make it a good location for mines. Also, the planet is a great place for solar collectors, assuming you can build ones that don't melt. THey coulkd be used to make antimatter for shipment to other planets where it would be more useful. You'd need a few hundred people on the plante to oversee robots running the mines and solar panels. Also, ther are places near the poles where crater bottoms are never exposed t the sun because it has so little axil tilt. THere is thought to be water there,. It might be a good place to start a tunnel system. It will be difficult, but in a century people might begin colonizing mercury. And, even before colonmization could begin, explorers could land on the nightside and explore for a month before the sun rose again.

R. Daneel Olivaw, hello I've just noted that your not a member of the h2g2 Astronomical Society, and, as I'm completely against spamming of forums for advertising purposes, I'd like to invite you to join us here:
A413876

Yeliab

THanks. I wasn't even aware it existed. I'll take a look at it.

Surely joining in a discussion can't be classed as SPAM, Yeliab?


R. Daneel Olivaw:
We also have an off-h2g2 Yahoo account via which we have interesting discussions:

[email protected]

Thanks. Actually, I found that and tried to sign up. I didn't get a confirmation email, though.