Final Project

Michelle C.

Legislator:  Bob D. Glaze, Representative

(Click on image above to enlarge.)

COLONIZATION OF MARS

From the begging of time man has always explored.  Once all the Earth was conquered man looked to the stars.  Now our neighboring red planet, Mars, is at the vertex of man’s fascination.  Of course, man must first build a base on the moon before attempting a mission to Mars.  But once this feat has been accomplished, he can forge ahead into the fast reaches of space to the planet Mars.

BEFORE SETTLEMENT

Before building a habitat, factories must first be established.  Once on the planet man will have to rely on the resources of Mars.  Using the idea of in-situ resource utilization, man will live off the land.  The factories, built primarily by robots, will transform minerals from the planet into useful materials and chemicals.  Bricks, aluminum, carbon, plastic, glass, cement, concrete, and plaster can each be transformed from Martian regolith.  40% of Martian regolith is silicon dioxide, which be made into glass through smelting.  Each of these is extremely vital in building a habitat.

FINANCING THE COLONY

In the past, people migrated for several reasons: religious persecution, economic problems, and overpopulation.  Currently there are over 6 billion people on Earth.  One day we will need to expand, to other planets.  This problem could help solve the financial problem with a Mars Colony. One way to raise money for the colony is through Mars real estate.  There are two categories of Martian real estate, habitable and open.  Habitable real estate is homes that would exist beneath an environmentally convenient dome.  The other is open.  This would house outside the domes and would be cheaper. (For the buyer)  It is possible to sell land before actually colonizing the planet.  Money made from revenue could “lessen the blow” of the extreme expenses.  There is only 144 km of open land existing on the planet. If the land is sold at $10 an acre, an estimated $358 billion could be raised.  However, property rights would need to be enacted- probably by the United States- now.  Each 100m dome would cover 2 acres, acquiring one million dollars per dome.

ELECTRICITY?

Power is a major question scientists face for a Mars colony.  Solar panels could be used, but the distance from the sun to Mars creates a problem.  Stronger, more expensive panels would be needed.  Also, dust could deteriorate the panels, and clouds would block sunlight. Windmills are another possibility.  Wind speeds on the surface measure about 5 meters per second; higher above the surface, wind speeds can be 30 meters per second.  The key is how high the windmills are.  One main possibility is the use of geothermal power.  Deep below the surface the planet has high temperatures.  Using these high temperatures, a fluid will be boiled (probably water).  Then using the steam produced, a generator will be turned.  In the North Pole, possibly large amounts of water exist beneath the surface.  Also, Mars is covered with dormant volcanoes, which contain hot soil.  Either of these could be used for geothermal power.  The most prominent source of power would come from nuclear reactors.  Each of these sources, if used, would need to be built before the factories are built.

LIFE SUPPORT

The most important question of all concerns the problem of life support.  How will humans be able to live on Mars?  Man must be able to make oxygen on this foreign planet.  One way is by Reverse Water- Gas Shift Reaction.  (RWGS)  This produces carbon monoxide and water from hydrogen.  Importantly, the water obtained from this reaction can be electrolyzed to formulate oxygen.  Recycling water and waste would also be needed for survival on Mars.  Also, a greenhouse would provide food for the inhabitants of the Mars Colony. The distilled waste from the RWGS reaction could be used to fertilize the soil inside the greenhouses. It is still in question as to whether or not plants can be grown in the Martian soil, but many believe it can be done.

OTHER USEFUL INGREDIENTS

Once again the Reverse Water – Gas Shirt Reaction comes into play.   The carbon monoxide produced from these equations can be used to produce ethylene, an important ingredient in producing plastic.  What else can ethylene be used for?  First, it has 2 hydrogen’s per carbon, thus cutting the mining of water half.  It has a high boiling point so it doesn’t need freezing to liquefy or insulation to maintain liquid substance.  Ethylene is 50% denser than methane, making the cost of fuel loads and fuel tanks lighter.  It can also be used to make films, fabrics, domes, clothing, bags, insulation, tires, bottles, watertight vessels, tableware, tools, implements, medical gear, boxes, rigid structures, lubricants, sealants, adhesives, and tapes.  Another abundant substance in the soil is clay, which could inevitably be used by the colony. 

BASIC DESIGN

The basic design of the colony consists of the main habitat, factories, power plants, and underground water facilities.  Rovers will transport people and supplies between each of these structures.  The main blueprint for the habitat consists of several dome structures in a circular pattern. Since domes and archways are the strongest structure known to man, they will be used frequently in the design of the buildings.   Due to the costs of excavation, the domes will actually be huge spheres atop decks and rooms.  Underground hallways will connect the domes.  These hallways will have several rooms on either side.  These will be the habitable homes, as mentioned earlier.  The open estates will be made out of Martian bricks.  They will be Roman style structures, vaults, covered with soil for radiation and temperature protection.  Walled archways will make up the main structure for these buildings.  A thin plastic layer will be located in the middle of the bricks to prevent air leakage.  Inside all structures bright colors such as blue, green, purple will help to keep the inhabitants sane will living on an almost dead planet.

LOCATION

The location of the colony is extremely important to the success of the humans.  Most geologists prefer craters, valleys, or other land- outs.  The only problem is that these areas are the hardest to navigate a ship for landing.  But rovers could transport people and supplies from the landing site to the colony.

CREW

The recommended requirements for crew members are as follows:  Ages 28-50, 10 years experience in a specialized field, ability to speak fluent English, not married or in a relationship, scores high on psychological tests.  Also, people of different races will be needed to maintain good relationships with foreign countries involved in the space program.

Sources:

From Unit 12 Extended Mission:

            Mars: Mankind’s Future Lies in Space

            RedColony.com

Lesson 11 and 12

Last Updated: 06/19/01