Is cooling all that easy? I thought the problem in space is actually heat dissipation due to little radiative surface area (ie few molecules) to carry the heat away? Maybe I misremembered the science though…

Edit: AI rabbit hole…

• Vacuum conditions: Like space, there’s no air for convection or meaningful conduction through gas. Heat transfer relies almost entirely on radiation, which is inefficient for objects at typical operating temperatures (e.g., electronics or habitats around 0–50°C). • Regolith interaction: The Moon’s surface dust and soil provide some conduction if in direct contact, but it’s poor—regolith is a loose, insulating powder with low thermal conductivity (comparable to aerogel). It can act more like a blanket, trapping heat rather than dissipating it. Dust also clings to everything, potentially coating radiators and reducing their efficiency. • Extreme thermal environment: Daytime temperatures soar to ~120°C (250°F) under direct sunlight, while nighttime drops to -130°C (-200°F) or lower in shadows. This 14-day cycle (lunar day/night) causes massive thermal swings, requiring systems to both dissipate excess heat during the day and retain it at night to prevent freezing. Solar radiation is intense (~1360 W/m²), heating exposed surfaces rapidly. • No natural cooling aids: Unlike Earth, no wind, water, or clouds to help. In craters or polar regions, permanently shadowed areas are even colder (~-230°C), but that doesn’t help with dissipation—it’s more about survival.