Question

You are a member of a space crew originally scheduled to rendezvous with a mother ship on the lighted surface of the moon. However, due to mechanical difficulties, your ship was forced to land at a spot some 200 miles from the rendezvous point. During reentry and landing, much of the equipment onboard was damaged and, since survival depends on reaching the mother ship, the most critical items available must be chosen for the 200-mile trip. Below are listed the 15 items left intact and undamaged after landing. Your task is to rank order them in terms of their importance for your crew in allowing them to reach the rendezvous point. Place the number 1 by the most important item, the number 2 by the second most important, and so on through number 15 for the least important.

Answer 1

a self inflating raft on the moon? They have oceans?

flares ? with no air around ?

I even wonder how to use the first aid kit while in an inflated suit and helmet.

Please , think about conditions on the lunar surface !

Answer 2

I have doubts about these as well:
8. Portable water filter - helpful in purifying any water sources that may be found on the moon
9. Solar-powered heater - important for keeping warm, especially during cold lunar nights

Answer 3

I would put O2 tank at the top myself. You run out of air before you die of dehydration. Sleeping bag?

Answer 4

9. Multi-purpose tool or knife for cutting and self-defense if necessary

Laughing ! There I was in my space suit stabbing the alien creature.

Answer 5

Well, I might need to cut lines to tie the inflatable life boat to the pier.

Answer 6

I can not even imagine how you would eat without taking your helmet off. The whole scenario seems crazy to me.

Answer 7

I fear that without some sort of vehicle with atmospheric air pressure inside, the whole thing is quite impossible. That is why we talk about rovers. However I do ships, not rockets, so am not expert.

Answer 8

By the way, in my experience as a diver, a backpack size O2 tank would not get you far. Even if it is 100% O2 without the 80% N2 it would only last a few hours.

Answer 9

rendezvous point?
your ranking?

Answer 10

_______ Box of matches
_______ Food concentrate
_______ 50 feet of nylon rope
_______ Parachute silk
_______ Portable heating unit
_______ Two .45 caliber pistols
_______ One case of dehydrated milk
_______ Two 100 lb. tanks of oxygen
_______ Stellar map- Map of stars
_______ Self-inflating life raft
_______ Magnetic compass
_______ 20 liters of water
_______ Signal flares
_______ First aid kit, including injection needle
_______ Solar-powered FM receiver-transmitter

What’s your score?