# How would you set up a working fire pit on the moon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051 "2015-10-18T22:13:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/41 "2015-10-20T19:47:02Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Nothing says “back to nature” like roasting marshmallows over a glowing fast-fission nuclear reaction. If I was going to have a sig, that would be my sig. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/42 "2015-10-20T20:37:57Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > But do you want to \*grill \*over iodizing aluminum? Not sure. I can’t find out if the temperature’s high enough to get a decent char. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/43 "2015-10-20T21:09:57Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Maybe a specially designed hatch? Just for s’mores? My new nickname for my mouth is the “S’more Port”. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/44 "2015-10-21T01:49:30Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > While I appreciate being the outdoors type, you really, really, _really_ don’t want to be exposed to the vacuum on the Moon without a space-suit. > > So it order to even enjoy the bonfire, assuming you get close enough, it’s kind of moot since you can’t feel the flame. Or stuff s’mores through your faceplate. Our cover photo on Facebook is an astronaut lounging on the moon looking at Earth. He’s in full spacesuit, including helmet. And has an open bottle of beer in his gloved hand. > [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > BTW- solved the marshmallow problem. Use mini-marshmallows. Brilliant! (Side note - I think the GQ portion of this thread is mostly done…although I welcome further discussion. Also s’mores. I welcome s’mores.) ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/45 "2015-10-21T03:37:32Z")
Would we want a separate helmet port for the beer? (We did kinda reserve one just for s’mores.) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/46 "2015-10-22T01:17:42Z")
What are you trying to accomplish with your fire pit? A pretty light show for entertainment? Generic ambient lighting? A cooking location? A source of heat to congregate around on those cold moon nights? I would think you would be better served dividing up the tasks and accomplishing them separately. Trying to make something that burns for entertainment, I’d go with the aforementioned fire log thingy with built in oxidizer and color additives like they use in fireworks. > [@watchwolf49](#): > > Buoyancy would be absent without an atmosphere … we’ll need something to draw the hot exhaust gases away from the combustion point … they won’t rise away from the flames but remain and choke it out. As mentioned, the vacuum will take care of any exhaust gas build up problem. If using oxygen, keeping it in the vicinity long enough to burn is the problem. > [@chrisk](#): > > Be careful with that. I imagine if you mix the oxidizer in too evenly, then you’ve just invented the Megablast BombLog. 😉 Need some kind of stabilizer, like used in solid rocket engines. The stabilizer slows the reaction to some semblance of control. You want just enough reaction to create a flame, but not enough that it goes boom. > [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Would we want a separate helmet port for the beer? (We did kinda reserve one just for s’mores.) Beer would actually be easier to accommodate. You might need a special bottle to insulate the beer to keep it the desired temperature, rather than responding to the environment and alternating between freezing and boiling. Something more than a standard bottle to keep it pressurized and to have a valve attachment to hook to your suit, which could be designed with a fluid fill system to a bulb valve at the mouth. This would allow beer, water, or whatever fluid you desired to be exchanged while in the suit, versus the current method of loading your drink bag prior to getting into the suit. S’mores are another matter. You’d need some kind of airlock on your s’more hatch, which is going to get cumbersome and obtrusive very quickly. You might could make some sort of s’more paste in a tube that you load into a dispenser in the helmet. But that’s going to have difficulty with texture and temperature. But there are s’more flavored pop-tarts, so your work is well underway there. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/47 "2015-10-22T02:40:17Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > On the moom, anything can happen! What happens on the moon, stays on the moon. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/48 "2015-10-22T03:58:13Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > Be careful with that. I imagine if you mix the oxidizer in too evenly, then you’ve just invented the Megablast BombLog. 😉 Indeed. Marbled to perfection! mwaaah! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/49 "2015-10-22T04:03:58Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Our cover photo on Facebook is an astronaut lounging on the moon looking at Earth. He’s in full spacesuit, including helmet. And has an open bottle of beer in his gloved hand. Love it. Although, for convenience, you might think of modifying one of [these](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pslOto9TL._SX300_.jpg) for the helmet. Another thought. Without atmosphere, you can only feel the heat by radiation only, not convection. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/50 "2015-10-22T13:45:34Z")
♫ Yet a higher goal was calling, And we vowed to reach it soon, And we gave ourselves a decade To put fire on the Moon …♫ “[Fire in the Sky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ryd_p20XEU)” - Jordin Kare ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/51 "2015-10-23T00:09:26Z")
**Smokey Alien, Smokey Alien** dammit!😃 It is NOT Smokey the bear, it’s Smokey Bear. @smokey\_bear ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/52 "2015-10-23T00:18:55Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > **Smokey Alien, Smokey Alien** dammit!😃 It is NOT Smokey the bear, it’s Smokey Bear. > > @smokey\_bear As a side note, Smokey Bear is one of only two individuals in the US to have his own ZIP code, the other one being the President. [Really](http://www.omgfacts.com/lists/8905/There-are-two-individuals-in-the-U-S-who-have-their-own-zip-code-the-president-and-Smokey-the-bear). ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/53 "2015-10-23T01:09:21Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > What are you trying to accomplish with your fire pit? A pretty light show for entertainment? Generic ambient lighting? A cooking location? A source of heat to congregate around on those cold moon nights? Entertainment. Definitely entertainment. If we have to pick one. > [@cmyk](#): > > Love it. > > Although, for convenience, you might think of modifying one of [these](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pslOto9TL._SX300_.jpg) for the helmet. [This](http://eskipaper.com/images/hd-wallpaper-27.jpg) is the image, from another source… I admit it makes me smile every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/54 "2015-10-23T01:29:35Z")
Hmmm… the earth is at least 10x closer than it should be, stars should not be visible in normal daytime exposure settings, and the beer should be erupting out of the bottle in a foaming geyser. Bad science! Bad! No s’mores for you! ---
**Author:** ![TonyRV2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TonyRV2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyRV2)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/55 "2015-10-23T14:24:31Z")
As long as your rocketing to the moon and we’re speaking of hypotheticals you only need to dig a hole deep enough so that you can invert one of your detachable rocket engines in the pit. Just fire up the engine and roast your weenies. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/56 "2015-10-23T16:01:03Z")
You got a rocket engine up there. Turn it upside down and bury it in a pit. Presto, fire pit. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/57 "2015-10-23T17:05:42Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > You got a rocket engine up there. Turn it upside down and bury it in a pit. Presto, fire pit. Too risky. We don’t want to take a chance on moving the moon. Some lowlife (I’m looking at you, bacterial slime) planet will probably pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/58 "2015-10-23T17:11:21Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Too risky. We don’t want to take a chance on moving the moon. Some lowlife (I’m looking at you, bacterial slime) planet will probably pick it up. Then build an equal sized fire pit on the opposite side of the moon so the two pushes cancel each other out. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/59 "2015-10-23T17:11:29Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Too risky. We don’t want to take a chance on moving the moon. Some lowlife (I’m looking at you, bacterial slime) planet will probably pick it up. [That’s been done before.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space:_1999) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051/60 "2015-10-23T17:14:27Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Then build an equal sized fire pit on the opposite side of the moon so the two pushes cancel each other out. And turn them a both a little sideways in opposite directions so we finally get to see that dark side from earth. [Hmm? I wonder what it would take to do that?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18798883#post18798883) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-set-up-a-working-fire-pit-on-the-moon/735051.md?page=4)