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"I think that self-limitation is the major limiting factor for most people in the world."
- Frank Herbert
 |
| Tag-Along Balloon | ||
| A bladder-like device that both finds and temporarily fixes leaks in moon tunnels or space station habitats. |
You're in a space station or habitat in a vacuum. One of the most serious dangers you face is the loss of air; how can you find and fix leaks?
| There were perhaps a dozen bladder-like objects in the tunnel, the size and shape of toy balloons. They seemed to displace exactly their own weight of air; they floated without displaying much tendency to rise or settle. Konski batted one out of his way and answered me before I could ask.
"This piece of tunnel was pressurized today," he told me. "These tag-alongs search out stray leaks. They're sticky inside. They get sucked up against a leak, break, and the goo gets sucked in, freezes and seals the leak." "Is that a permanent repair?" I wanted to know. "Are you kidding? It just shows the follow-up man where to weld." |
| From Gentlemen, Be Seated,
by Robert Heinlein. Published by Argosy in 1948 Additional resources -
|
This is such a simple solution to the problem. The slow leak of air causes the balloons to move to the source of the problem. When they are sucked up against the small hole, they are popped, releasing material to stop up the leak.
Obviously, this would only work with small leaks.
Speaking of larger leaks, compare this to the smoke-jets from Leo Zagat's 1932 story The Great Dome of Mercury. See also the alpha inserts from Exiles of the Moon, by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat).
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More Ideas
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and Technology by Robert Heinlein
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Tech news articles related to works by Robert Heinlein
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| A Floating Cosmodrome |
| Space-Based Solar Power Roundup |
| 'Aerogel' Sheets For Martian Gardens |
| Michelin Self-Sealing Tires On Ford's Explorer |
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Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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'The planes flew continuously, twenty-four hours a day...'
'It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time.'
'...a single perfectly level platform, which rose so high above the water that it was not splashed by the waves.'
'Is an extra-factual memory that convincing?' Quail asked.
Megastructures have repair robots, which have repair robots, ad infinitum.
‘She wouldn't stop until Antar had told her everything he knew...’
Perfect for clot-busting in the human brain. No Raquel Welch and no lasers, though.
