September 17, 2012 at 17:26The human colony on Mars. A detailed study of the Mars One project
Colonization of Mars. Project Mars One. Introduction: habrahabr.ru/post/149457 Robotex
In the comments on the last post, many different versions flared up about the colonization of Mars. This article contains more detailed information about each point of the upcoming mission, so that you can finally strengthen your point of view on this issue.
Mars One is a private organization whose task is to establish a colony on Mars using ready-made technologies. This is the first project that plans to finance such a global operation through real-time TV broadcasts, from the selection of astronauts on Earth to the solution of complex technical problems on the surface of Mars.
Many people believe that the desire to explore the solar system is a much more important achievement for all of humanity than the local desires of individual nations. Like Apollo’s landing on the moon, the human mission on Mars will make it clear to our generations that everything is possible in this world. The Mars One team believes not only in the possibility of this mission, but also in the fact that they must do everything possible to accelerate our understanding of the formation of the cosmos, the origin of life, and, no less important, our sense of existence in the universe.
In 2011, the creation of the first plans began. During the first year, negotiations were held with many space agencies and corporations to test this idea for strength. The response letters contained a deep interest in the project.
Since it would be too expensive for corporations, and too risky for government enterprises, Mars One decided to go along the path of integrating individual branches of existing technologies.
The plan is based on existing technologies from reliable suppliers. The project itself is not an aerospace company and does not produce the equipment necessary for the mission. All equipment will be developed by third parties and then combined into a single whole.
A complete mission kit will contain the following:
It is planned to use a large semi-autonomous system with solar power as the rover, the tasks of which will include:
All cosmonauts will have to wear costumes in contact with the Martian atmosphere. Like the ones used on the moon, costumes will protect astronauts from extreme temperatures, a thin airless atmosphere and harmful radiation.
The system will transmit video streams along the Mars - communication satellite - Earth chain
Tell you something similar - “we are going to fly to Mars for a permanent life” - you will have questions:
Let's try to answer these questions, and not only.
Buying a one-way ticket is always more profitable than taking care of the return trip, but what do astronauts think about this? Everything will depend on who to ask. It is easy to see that most people would rather lose their legs than stay on a cold dangerous planet, saying “bye-bye” to their whole family and friends (with the friends of the translator's note ), and knowing that they would never meet again face to face after a Spartan trip to the Red Planet. However, there are people for whom traveling to Mars is a long-standing dream of many years. They are ready to meet with the planet one on one. For them, this is a unique opportunity to explore the new world, to conduct hitherto unknown experiments, to build a new home for Humanity and to face the Unknown.
The Mars One team will provide an opportunity to replenish the ranks of astronauts to everyone. Are you the one who dreams of this? Then read on to find out what awaits you! Would you rather lose your leg than take such an adventure? Read on and make sure your choice is right!
Each astronaut will participate in a ten-year mandatory training. It will include numerous proficiency tests in a group of four. These tests will be conducted in a confined space for several months. The purpose of this is to understand how a particular person reacts to close proximity with the rest of the team. In addition to this, colonialists must learn many new skills. In the end, these people will be responsible for every aspect of the Martian colony: repair, growing crops, as well as for many different medical little things like fractures. (a dubious phenomenon in the conditions of Martian gravity. approx. translator )
The flight will take seven months. Astronauts will spend all this time in a very small space - much smaller than the main base will provide, moreover, without much luxury and excesses. This will be a challenge. The shower is not included in the program in advance - only wet wipes, like the visitors of the International Space Station. The main friends of the astronauts at this time - canned meat, the constant noise of fans and a three-hour warm-up. Against this background, getting into a solar storm will be a significant adventure - after all, you can panic a little and hide in a compartment with solar protection for a couple of days. There is no doubt that the trip will be tough, but the astronauts will endure - this is a trip to their dream (dream can be translated as a dream, including in a negative context . Translator's note.)
Upon arrival on Mars, the astronauts will settle in more comfortable rooms (50 square meters per person, with a total area of 200 for the entire team). These rooms will be based on inflatable components - a bedroom, a working area, a living room, a greenhouse for growing greenery. Thanks to these components, the colonists will be able to take a shower like all normal people, cook fresh food, wear ordinary clothes and lead essentially normal lifestyles. The whole complex will be connected by a network of moves, but if someone wants to leave the base, he will need to wear a special suit. Installation of a residential complex will not take much time, and as soon as the problem is solved, you can begin construction and research.
Several basic life support modules will arrive on Mars with the first team of settlers. The task of the team will also include the preparation of modules for the following groups of people. All new modules from Earth will be gradually connected to the main base. Some of them will be duplicated to provide more security and just for comfort. After some time, the colonists will have to take care of building additional housing from local materials.
The planet will be rich in the amount of research needed. Astronauts will begin to study the influence of Mars on plants and their own bodies, to solve many geological and biological problems. Who knows, in their free time, they might think: was life on Mars before them?
All cosmonaut activities will be broadcast in real time to Earth. You can keep abreast of all recent events (the response time is about half an hour, without adjusting for the size of the data of the translator's note ), as well as occasionally listen to the stories of astronauts who will definitely have something to say. What happens when you come to the surface? What is “participate in adventure”? What is it like to experience gravity, which is only 40% of the earth? Answers to these and many other questions will be received very soon.
New groups of people are planned to land on Mars every two years. The size of the settlement will grow steadily. A little later, many residential modules will be completed using local materials, so they will become large enough for a comfortable stay. The increase in settlement will also have a beneficial effect on the state of the colonists, as they will have opportunities for social life along with hard work.
Mars One is not the first organization to dream about human flight to Mars. Many had similar plans. And yet, there was no success. Why should Mars One become successful?
Traveling to Mars is a one-way trip. This fundamentally changes the requirements for the mission, completely eliminating the need to return equipment to Earth, which leads to a sharp decrease in the cost of the flight. Mars will become a new home for the colonists, in which they will live and work, probably until the end of their days.
Although there is a small opportunity to return home, do not seriously think about it. To return a person to Earth, several built and fully fueled rockets will be required, each of which will be able to fly round-trip with a total duration of 14 months. It will cost substantially more than a one-way trip.
In addition, do not forget about gravity. After several years of life on Mars, man will become unable to return to Earth. This is due to irreversible physiological changes in the body, for example, a decrease in bone density, loss of muscle strength and a decrease in the potential of the circulatory system. Even after a short trip to the Mir station, the astronauts got on their feet for two years, let alone Mars.
Thus, under the condition of permanent residence on Mars, all problems are reduced to providing the basis for life: clean air, drinking water, food, and artificial support for plant growth (for the first time)
Although all this sounds complicated, in fact, the Mars One project can be implemented today. Mankind already owns the necessary technology. Many data obtained from past space experiments can be applied to this mission.
In addition, Mars contains some necessary elements and fossils. For the first settlement, for example, a place is selected that contains water ice in the soil. This water can be used for drinking, bathing, watering feed crops, as well as to create oxygen. Mars has natural sources of nitrogen - the main element of which in the air (80%) - we breathe.
Using this simple, reliable and plentiful source of energy, a complete rejection of the development and launch of a nuclear reactor is possible, while saving time and money, and reducing the risk of use. Solar panels will be a good light source of energy - after all, the colony does not need heavy fuels to launch the rockets back. The first settlement will have to cover an area of about 3,000 square meters with solar panels. Although Mars is significantly farther from the Sun than the Earth, it has a more subtle atmosphere. As a result of this compensation, a sufficient amount of energy gets to the surface - about 500 W per square meter (1000 W on the Earth). In the early years, the batteries will be located exclusively on the surface of the planet. As the power decreases due to dust deposits, a special robot will carry out their cleaning.
Thanks to the use of relatively simple rovers, money is saved that could be spent on developing more complex systems. Such machines were chosen that, although they allow you to comfortably move around the territory, but are not able to maintain the atmosphere and pressure inside their body - this will become the concern of Martian costumes. This choice is optimal, as it significantly reduces the cost of development and delivery. The rover will allow astronauts to travel up to 80 kilometers per day. Actually, it’s not a matter of the rover - the battery on board contains a significant amount of energy - but, alas, suits are not intended for work lasting more than 8 hours. The speed of the rover will not exceed 10 km per hour under direct control and will be even less with automatic. Though it seems too smallapprox. translator ). Do not forget also that we are talking about the plant-on-wheels rover.
The whole plan revolves around the use of real-world, time-tested technologies. Even if any component is not in stock, this is only a small matter of time, because there is no need for a radical change in the part. All suppliers have confirmed their readiness to build the necessary components at least right now.
The only selection criterion is the balance of price and quality. The project is not interested in the supplier nation. This distinguishes him from large corporations that dictate their foreign and domestic policies based on many personal factors. Does this provide substantial guarantees of good quality and price? Not!
Thus, the theoretical basis for the start is quite ready. What awaits us next? Time will tell.
Based on materials from the official website of the project.
In the comments on the last post, many different versions flared up about the colonization of Mars. This article contains more detailed information about each point of the upcoming mission, so that you can finally strengthen your point of view on this issue.
About Mars One
Mars One is a private organization whose task is to establish a colony on Mars using ready-made technologies. This is the first project that plans to finance such a global operation through real-time TV broadcasts, from the selection of astronauts on Earth to the solution of complex technical problems on the surface of Mars.
Goals
Many people believe that the desire to explore the solar system is a much more important achievement for all of humanity than the local desires of individual nations. Like Apollo’s landing on the moon, the human mission on Mars will make it clear to our generations that everything is possible in this world. The Mars One team believes not only in the possibility of this mission, but also in the fact that they must do everything possible to accelerate our understanding of the formation of the cosmos, the origin of life, and, no less important, our sense of existence in the universe.
Working mission
In 2011, the creation of the first plans began. During the first year, negotiations were held with many space agencies and corporations to test this idea for strength. The response letters contained a deep interest in the project.
Since it would be too expensive for corporations, and too risky for government enterprises, Mars One decided to go along the path of integrating individual branches of existing technologies.
Technology
The plan is based on existing technologies from reliable suppliers. The project itself is not an aerospace company and does not produce the equipment necessary for the mission. All equipment will be developed by third parties and then combined into a single whole.
A complete mission kit will contain the following:
- Launcher. This type of rocket will be used to deliver payload from the earth to orbit (or from orbit to Mars). It is planned to use the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket (an improved version of the Falcon 9, which SpaceX is currently using).
- Martian transit module. The module will be responsible for the delivery of astronauts to Mars. It will consist of two fuel systems, a landing system and living quarters.
- The descent vehicle. The Mars One team suggests using an extended version of DragonCapsule, which was first tested in 2010. This is the same capsule that successfully docked with the ISS (International Space Station) in May 2012. The Martian mission will require its slightly expanded model, which will include:
A life support
module, which will contain air, water and energy generation systems; A power module, which will contain food;
A biosphere module, which will store special inflatable sections that will allow you to create large residential area on the surface of Mars
module for travel, in which astronauts will spend seven months before landing on the planet
module rovers
Rovers
It is planned to use a large semi-autonomous system with solar power as the rover, the tasks of which will include:
- Intelligence service
- Quick collection of small vehicles
- Transportation of large hardware components
- General assembly of large structures
Martian costume
All cosmonauts will have to wear costumes in contact with the Martian atmosphere. Like the ones used on the moon, costumes will protect astronauts from extreme temperatures, a thin airless atmosphere and harmful radiation.
Communication system
The system will transmit video streams along the Mars - communication satellite - Earth chain
Humanity on Mars
Tell you something similar - “we are going to fly to Mars for a permanent life” - you will have questions:
- How can astronauts leave Earth? This is crazy!
- How will they prepare for life on Mars?
- What can happen in seven months of travel?
- What will astronauts do when they are away from home?
Let's try to answer these questions, and not only.
Emigration to Mars
Buying a one-way ticket is always more profitable than taking care of the return trip, but what do astronauts think about this? Everything will depend on who to ask. It is easy to see that most people would rather lose their legs than stay on a cold dangerous planet, saying “bye-bye” to their whole family and friends (with the friends of the translator's note ), and knowing that they would never meet again face to face after a Spartan trip to the Red Planet. However, there are people for whom traveling to Mars is a long-standing dream of many years. They are ready to meet with the planet one on one. For them, this is a unique opportunity to explore the new world, to conduct hitherto unknown experiments, to build a new home for Humanity and to face the Unknown.
The Mars One team will provide an opportunity to replenish the ranks of astronauts to everyone. Are you the one who dreams of this? Then read on to find out what awaits you! Would you rather lose your leg than take such an adventure? Read on and make sure your choice is right!
Training
Each astronaut will participate in a ten-year mandatory training. It will include numerous proficiency tests in a group of four. These tests will be conducted in a confined space for several months. The purpose of this is to understand how a particular person reacts to close proximity with the rest of the team. In addition to this, colonialists must learn many new skills. In the end, these people will be responsible for every aspect of the Martian colony: repair, growing crops, as well as for many different medical little things like fractures. (a dubious phenomenon in the conditions of Martian gravity. approx. translator )
One way trip
The flight will take seven months. Astronauts will spend all this time in a very small space - much smaller than the main base will provide, moreover, without much luxury and excesses. This will be a challenge. The shower is not included in the program in advance - only wet wipes, like the visitors of the International Space Station. The main friends of the astronauts at this time - canned meat, the constant noise of fans and a three-hour warm-up. Against this background, getting into a solar storm will be a significant adventure - after all, you can panic a little and hide in a compartment with solar protection for a couple of days. There is no doubt that the trip will be tough, but the astronauts will endure - this is a trip to their dream (dream can be translated as a dream, including in a negative context . Translator's note.)
Mars Accommodation
Upon arrival on Mars, the astronauts will settle in more comfortable rooms (50 square meters per person, with a total area of 200 for the entire team). These rooms will be based on inflatable components - a bedroom, a working area, a living room, a greenhouse for growing greenery. Thanks to these components, the colonists will be able to take a shower like all normal people, cook fresh food, wear ordinary clothes and lead essentially normal lifestyles. The whole complex will be connected by a network of moves, but if someone wants to leave the base, he will need to wear a special suit. Installation of a residential complex will not take much time, and as soon as the problem is solved, you can begin construction and research.
Construction and research
Several basic life support modules will arrive on Mars with the first team of settlers. The task of the team will also include the preparation of modules for the following groups of people. All new modules from Earth will be gradually connected to the main base. Some of them will be duplicated to provide more security and just for comfort. After some time, the colonists will have to take care of building additional housing from local materials.
The planet will be rich in the amount of research needed. Astronauts will begin to study the influence of Mars on plants and their own bodies, to solve many geological and biological problems. Who knows, in their free time, they might think: was life on Mars before them?
Live Broadcast and Television
All cosmonaut activities will be broadcast in real time to Earth. You can keep abreast of all recent events (the response time is about half an hour, without adjusting for the size of the data of the translator's note ), as well as occasionally listen to the stories of astronauts who will definitely have something to say. What happens when you come to the surface? What is “participate in adventure”? What is it like to experience gravity, which is only 40% of the earth? Answers to these and many other questions will be received very soon.
Expansion
New groups of people are planned to land on Mars every two years. The size of the settlement will grow steadily. A little later, many residential modules will be completed using local materials, so they will become large enough for a comfortable stay. The increase in settlement will also have a beneficial effect on the state of the colonists, as they will have opportunities for social life along with hard work.
Is it really possible?
Mars One is not the first organization to dream about human flight to Mars. Many had similar plans. And yet, there was no success. Why should Mars One become successful?
Emigration
Traveling to Mars is a one-way trip. This fundamentally changes the requirements for the mission, completely eliminating the need to return equipment to Earth, which leads to a sharp decrease in the cost of the flight. Mars will become a new home for the colonists, in which they will live and work, probably until the end of their days.
Although there is a small opportunity to return home, do not seriously think about it. To return a person to Earth, several built and fully fueled rockets will be required, each of which will be able to fly round-trip with a total duration of 14 months. It will cost substantially more than a one-way trip.
In addition, do not forget about gravity. After several years of life on Mars, man will become unable to return to Earth. This is due to irreversible physiological changes in the body, for example, a decrease in bone density, loss of muscle strength and a decrease in the potential of the circulatory system. Even after a short trip to the Mir station, the astronauts got on their feet for two years, let alone Mars.
Thus, under the condition of permanent residence on Mars, all problems are reduced to providing the basis for life: clean air, drinking water, food, and artificial support for plant growth (for the first time)
Although all this sounds complicated, in fact, the Mars One project can be implemented today. Mankind already owns the necessary technology. Many data obtained from past space experiments can be applied to this mission.
In addition, Mars contains some necessary elements and fossils. For the first settlement, for example, a place is selected that contains water ice in the soil. This water can be used for drinking, bathing, watering feed crops, as well as to create oxygen. Mars has natural sources of nitrogen - the main element of which in the air (80%) - we breathe.
Solar panels
Using this simple, reliable and plentiful source of energy, a complete rejection of the development and launch of a nuclear reactor is possible, while saving time and money, and reducing the risk of use. Solar panels will be a good light source of energy - after all, the colony does not need heavy fuels to launch the rockets back. The first settlement will have to cover an area of about 3,000 square meters with solar panels. Although Mars is significantly farther from the Sun than the Earth, it has a more subtle atmosphere. As a result of this compensation, a sufficient amount of energy gets to the surface - about 500 W per square meter (1000 W on the Earth). In the early years, the batteries will be located exclusively on the surface of the planet. As the power decreases due to dust deposits, a special robot will carry out their cleaning.
Simple rovers
Thanks to the use of relatively simple rovers, money is saved that could be spent on developing more complex systems. Such machines were chosen that, although they allow you to comfortably move around the territory, but are not able to maintain the atmosphere and pressure inside their body - this will become the concern of Martian costumes. This choice is optimal, as it significantly reduces the cost of development and delivery. The rover will allow astronauts to travel up to 80 kilometers per day. Actually, it’s not a matter of the rover - the battery on board contains a significant amount of energy - but, alas, suits are not intended for work lasting more than 8 hours. The speed of the rover will not exceed 10 km per hour under direct control and will be even less with automatic. Though it seems too smallapprox. translator ). Do not forget also that we are talking about the plant-on-wheels rover.
Lack of latest developments
The whole plan revolves around the use of real-world, time-tested technologies. Even if any component is not in stock, this is only a small matter of time, because there is no need for a radical change in the part. All suppliers have confirmed their readiness to build the necessary components at least right now.
Lack of policy
The only selection criterion is the balance of price and quality. The project is not interested in the supplier nation. This distinguishes him from large corporations that dictate their foreign and domestic policies based on many personal factors. Does this provide substantial guarantees of good quality and price? Not!
Thus, the theoretical basis for the start is quite ready. What awaits us next? Time will tell.
Based on materials from the official website of the project.