XPost: rec.arts.sf.written   
   From: am.swallow@eatspam.btinternet.com   
      
   "Tim Bruening"  wrote in message   
   news:3FF92D5F.6B1676AD@pop.dcn.davis.ca.us...   
   >   
   >   
   > Doug Dawson wrote:   
   >   
   [snip]   
   > >   
   > > Mars is below freezing (well, in the middle of summer at the lowest   
   point   
   > > on the planet, it's a bit warmer, but still).  The initial temperature   
   > > fits if we assume Vornholt looked up the temperature (given in K), but   
   > > thought that it was Celsius (and hence quite warm).  Are you sure about   
   that   
   > > second number?  That fits moderately well only if it's 379 F   
   (corresponding   
   > > to about 200 C, assuming the same misreading).   
   >   
   > Yes.  I suspect a typo for the 379 C temperature.   
   >   
   I suspect that the author had confused Mars with the moon.   
   The moon gets that hot.  A half remembered documentary   
   about the moon landings may have caused the confusion.   
      
   The journey through the water system required the water   
   to be warm.  On Mars the water pipes would need heating   
   to prevent them from freezing.   
      
   Andrew Swallow   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)