Anish P, Seungho K, Reuben M

STEM Progress Portfolio Task Sem 1

Mars Mission

Mission Details:

We need to leave Earth to survive:

Where do we go?
How do we get there?
How do we survive when we get there?

The Orbita Mars Mission

S.M.A.R.T. Goal
We need to plan a project and design a rocket that allows us to
leave Earth and successfully navigate to a planet with an
environment where we can survive and sustain ourselves for the
foreseeable future. We will reach the deadlines that we have set,
in this case Week 10 for half the work, by dividing the goal into
smaller sections that allow us to complete this project on time.
We will need to learn CAD skills to design the rocket, but we
possess most of the skills and resources required to complete
this project. This goal has been set to understand what we are
working towards in detail and in a way that allows us to finish this
project.

Main Constraints
- Inhabitable Planets
- Number of People
- Resources (Amount)
- Time (during journey)

Sub-Questions
Where Do We Go? - Addressed in Location and Health
How Do We Get There? - Addressed in Journey
How Do We Survive When We Get There? - Addressed in
Location, Base, and Health

Final Location – Mars

Progress Journal: Journal STEM.docx
 Location
Constraints Within Location: Choosing a planet with a
habitable requirement.
Choosing a planet with a habitable requirement was crucial to this project. There were
couple of suitable planets for this mission, which included planets like Gliese 581d,
and multiple planets located at Alpha Centauri with Proxima Centauri and Mars. This
process of excluding uninhabitable planets out of the list helped our mission to find the
suitable planet for our mission, the Goldilocks planet.

Choosing a planet with a reasonable distance that we can

reach.
Choosing a planet with a reasonable distance that we can reach was also important.
The distance between Earth and the exoplanets had to be a reasonable amount to
reach. If the distance between planets were too far, it would take huge number of
resources to reach the planet only once. This is not only waste of resources for going to
the planet, but also endangers the people in the spacecraft. Mars was chosen for the
right conditions.

Why it’s the best option

Mars is the most suitable planet for this mission because it has similarities to Earth unlike
other planet in our solar system. The data needed to support this idea is discussed below in
the next session.

Distance—We chose Mars because it is the second closest planet to Earth after Venus. Using
current technology, a journey to Mars takes about 6 months and the technology required to
do so is already available. There were some other available planets in our galaxy, such as
Gliese 581d, which is at a distance over 20 light years. Many of exoplanets are in Alpha
Centauri, at 4.4 light years, with Proxima Centauri, with 4.3 light years. The distances to
these exoplanets are substantial. The technology needed to reach the required velocity is
not available and has to be developed over time. Money is another factor too that interferes
going to these exoplanets. Thus, it is reasonable to use Mars as our planet to journey to.
The most accessible subsurface ice is the area below Mar’s polar region in the northern
hemisphere. Such regions as the northern midlatitudes also offer favourable conditions for
landing. The lower the elevation, the more opportunity a spacecraft must slow down using
friction from the Mars atmosphere during its descent to the surface. This is important
because Mar’s atmosphere is just 1% as dense as Earth and it provides less resistance for
incoming spacecrafts.
The atmospheres of Mars and Earth is described in a picture down below. The sizes of the
planet are not accurate. Major differences can be observed from the information below.
While earth is mostly made of Nitrogen, Mars’ atmosphere is consisted of 96% carbon
dioxide. Now the important thing is that the carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere can be
reversed into oxygen slowly, terraforming the planet, making the planet more suitable for
our journey. (The trace gases included in Mars’ atmosphere also helps the process.)

To reduce the cost and the risk of human exploration of Mars, robotic missions can scout
ahead and help finding resources of working on the planet. Before sending astronauts,
understanding any biohazards in the soil and dust will help the planning of these future
missions. -
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/W
hy_go_to_Mars

In our solar system, Mars is singular in that it possesses all the potentials required to
support life, and a new human civilisation. When comparing Mars with the Moon, the
uniqueness of the Mars can be seen clearly as an alternative location for extra-terrestrial
human colonisation.
Mars’s one of the biggest potentials is water, which is accessible below the Martian surface
an in the polar regions. By splitting the water found into oxygen and hydrogen, oxygen-rich
atmospheres can be produced in human bases.
On Mars, as on Earth, hydrologic and volcanic processes that have occurred that are likely to
have consolidated various elements into local concentrations of high-grade mineral ore.
Mars possesses large supplies of carbon and hydrogen that could be used to produce pure
silicon, which then could produce important equipment on Mars, such photovoltaic panels,
and other important electronics.

Mars also has the potential for wind-generating power. Mars also has solar power that
offers significant potential—It could produce tens to hundreds of kilowatts to support a
growing civilisation and Mars has both in the short and medium term in the form of its
geothermal power resources which offer potential of locally created electricity-- generating
electricity in the 10 Mwe (10,00 kilowatt) class from both wind and solar power.
In the long term, Mars will have the opportunity to enjoy a power-rich economy based upon
exploration of its large domestic resources that could be easily found on Mars as then on
Earth and the Moon. One example is deuterium, which is a fuel for fusion reactors.
(Deuterium is five times more common on Mars than it is on earth and tens of thousands of
times more common on Mars than on the moon.)
The atmosphere is an important subject to new residents planning to colonise Mars because
it could either kill all of them or make special benefits for them. Average atmospheric
pressure is 7 millibars on Mars, compared to 1,013 millibars on Earth. Mars is much colder
because of this reason. According to NASA quest, average temperature in the mid-latitudes
is -50C. At night, it can drop to -60C. while daytime highs may reach 0C. For more
comparisons, the table below contains the information. (referencing )
Atmosphere on Mars is thick enough to protect crops grown on the surface from solar
panels. This provides an optimal environment for people coming into Mars. This means
that one of the needs for our body—food is covered. This advantage could result further
to making greenhouses from silicon which could be made from large supplies of carbon
and hydrogen.

A human base on Mars can also provide an opportunity to study a second evolutionary
record of life and can shed light on the origin of life on Earth. Since Earth and Mars had
similar environmental conditions from the start, it might have originated under similar
circumstances. The fact that Mars does not have tectonic plates helps the traces of ancient
lives to be preserved better than on Earth.

• Similarity Comparison information.

Both Earth and Mars were condensed out of a massive cloud of hot gases around the sun
about 4.6 billion years ago according to ESA (European Space Agency). Mars is nearly twice
as large as the moon and a little over half the size of Earth.

(Diameter of Mars—6,786 kilometres. Diameter of Earth—12,756 kilometres. )

(Earth’s mass is about 10 times greater)

Looking at the ratio, it does not seem very close to each other. But the other comparisons
between planets in our solar system is completely devastating. Even the planet that is alike,
Venus, its ratio between Earth cannot be compared to the Mars and Earth’s similarities in
ratio. You can also observe the smaller size of Mars throughout this table.
(https://phys.org/news/2015-12-mars-earth.html and https://sciencing.com/mars-earth-
common-10034859.html and
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/marsfact.html)

Schematic timeline for Mars and Earth. The history of Mars and Earth’s atmosphere,
hydrosphere, formation of hydrated minerals and the surface age is described in a graph
below.
 • Resources needed to survive on Mars.

The requirements needed to support human life include water, food, air and shelter.
Requirements for a Mars mission include energy and fuel. According to Nasa files, all the
elements required to derive potable water, grow plants, mix breathable air, and construct
pressurised, and protective habitats are available and accessible on the surface of the
planet. Fuel and oxidizer combinations even can be derived from the Mar’s atmosphere
itself.
The requirements for an average human being were studied depending on physical activity
as well as psychological condition. Boston (1996) provided a table below about the summary
of studies about human consumption.

Table 2.1: Consumables Per Person Per Day

Material consumed Mass

Air (O2) 0.8kg-0.9kg
Drinking water (H2O) 2.3kg-4.6kg
Washing water (H2O) 1.1kg-5.4kg
Food 1.5kg-2.5kg

Table 2.2: Waste Products Per Person Per Day

Waste Material Mass

CO2 0.8kg-1.1kg
 Water (H2O) 1.8kg-2.5kg
Solid Waste 0.13kg-0.2kg

On the Nasa file, Meyer (1996) says that it is theoretically possible to recycle all the required
water of human needs. Meyer estimated that if 77% of the human water waste were
recycled then human life support requirements for additional water would be zero. This
would help the survival of Mars by not having to supply water for thousands of people every
day, they could just use the water from their own body to save water.

Fuel and Oxidizer production—A critical requirement both for the return vehicle and for
surface mobility. Self-sufficiency of a Martian base requires the ability to maintain fuel
stores and replenish supplies. These supplies according to the Nasa file can be used to
provide heating, lighting, equipment power, and emergency energy source for all the
systems, including life support, recycling, resource development, science, and exploration.
While nuclear, solar, and wind energy might provide the baseline for the energy, fuel stores
are a safe and effective way of saving and stockpiling energy.
Energy (final requirement)—
 Journey
Constraints Within Journey:
Weight Of Spacecraft:
The spacecraft needs to fall within a certain weight to maximise efficiency during the journey. It
is important that all resources are modular and only the required amount is taken to ensure that
the weight of the spacecraft is low. This is crucial because the rocket needs to use its thrust
effectively, making sure it produces enough power as well as reduce the duration of the journey
in space. The duration of the journey is important for passengers as long-term exposure to
radiation is quite dangerous.

Capacity – Passengers and Resources:

The capacity of the spacecraft is quite important as we need to be able to accommodate 22
passengers during the journey as well as all resources required to survive during the journey
and on Mars. The resources we take will also be used to build our base on Mars, which means
that the rocket will need to have a higher capacity than usual. For this reason, we have decided
to launch multiple rockets with the aim of assigning certain rockets for carrying supplies and
others to carry our crew members. We will then dock all main modules to form a main ship
which will transport all supplies and passengers to Mars.

Fuel and Propulsion:

It is important that the propulsion system is efficient and powerful enough to transport all
materials in a short period of time. This is important because research has shown that the
amount of time that astronauts spend in space can affect their health because of radiation in
space. Therefore, we need to find a propulsion system that can power the heavy rocket and
make sure it completes the journey in a short duration.

Time
Time is an essential factor when considering space travel and how fast we can complete the
journey through space is something that needs to be addressed well. The time factor is affected
by the different components of the spacecraft and how well the spacecraft is being powered.
The less time spent is space is better for the passengers and their mental and physical well-
being and the preservation of our resources and supplies.

Journey Components

Propulsion:
We can choose between the standard chemical propulsion system involving propellants like liquid
hydrogen and liquid oxygen in a combustion chamber.
A chemical propulsion system “uses chemical reactions to release and accelerate gases to generate
thrust.” (Banks, 2023). This is usually done in a combustion chamber where a propellant like liquid
hydrogen is oxidized to create a gas that can be used for thrust. This has been the standard system
used for many decades for space missions.

Our other and newer option is nuclear propulsion, a form of propellant which divides into 2
categories:

• Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP)

• Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP)

NTP: This system uses heat from a reactor to convert the liquid propellant into gas which is then
used for thrust. This system produces twice as much thrust and efficiency compared to chemical
propulsion.

NEP: This system uses electricity rather than heat and fission instead of chemical reaction. It uses a
reactor which produces electricity to positively charge the gas propellant. It then pushes out ions
through a thruster, providing thrust for the spacecraft. It is a lot more efficient than chemical
propulsion but doesn’t produce as much thrust as an NTP system.

For propulsion, we will be using both a chemical propulsion system and a Nuclear Thermal
Propulsion system. This is because we have a heavy payload that requires a high level of thrust and
since NTP has twice as much thrust and is more efficient than chemical propulsion. Research has also
shown that an NTP propulsion system will be able to cut the time for journey from around 9 months
down to 45 days which is a significant improvement. Survival in space is a key aspect and so we need
to address this by reaching Mars as quickly as possible so we can save resources for our time there.

Design:
For the project, multiple rockets will be sent out to create one big main ship that will transport all
supplies and 22 people to Mars. This includes all the food, the habitats, tools, and the main control
ship required to run the rockets. To accommodate enough people, we will be sending out multiple
rockets following the main habitats and supply missions. For thrust, there will 4 smaller rockets for
the 1st stage, one big rocket attached to the main body for the 2nd stage, and a set of smaller NTP
rockets to navigate in space until the docking with the main ship. !!!!

Orbita 1 Spacecraft – Design 1

This is not the final spacecraft design and will be subject to modifications over the duration of the
project. This is purely a starting point to base future design drawings and CAD drawings in the future.
 1. Nose cone with heat shields made of silicon carbonitride ceramics and carbon nanotubes.
Able to withstand up to 1000°C and flexible to allow for absorption of neutron radiation.
1. 1 of 4 chemical-propulsion boosters to power the spacecraft when leaving Earth, prior to
atmosphere. Chemical propulsion is the most effective form of propulsion when in Earth and
we will switch to our bigger, main Nuclear-Thermal Propulsion rocket in space. Part of the 1st
stage of separation.
2. Small thrusters to provide stability for chemical rocket landing. It is placed at the top and
bottom to be most efficient and allow for the best possible stability during landing to
preserve the rocket’s structure.
3. 4 landing legs on each chemical rocket to allow for rocket reusability. They will deploy near
the landing stage of the rockets.
4. 1st stage of separation will detach main chemical rocket and 4 boosters from the main
structure. Main rocket will not be reused but the other 4 boosters have landing capabilities,
allowing for reusability.
5. 2nd stage of separation with outer body of the rocket separating to reveal main module
which will carry resources and passengers. Nose cone will also detach to expose docking
mechanism when connecting to other spacecraft for the main ship.

Avionics:
The main systems of the rocket include our communications, navigation controls, and remote-
control capabilities. Our onboard computing and flight systems will be supplied by a variety of
electronics manufacturers including Aitech Systems Inc., Argotec, Innoflight, and Novo Space. For
the first stage of the mission, there will be communications between spacecraft to remote control
and relay information. Once we have created the main ship, communications are no longer required
until Mars. !!!!

Materials
The materials being used for the rocket include carbon nanotubes (CNT) which is a lot more effective
and stronger compared to the previously used material of carbon fibre. To protect the electronics
and batteries of the spacecraft, we will be using polyimide aerogel which is a good insulator and
light. Heat shields are also important due to high speeds and temperatures we will be subject to
during the journey. The heat shields we use will be made from infusing silicon carbonitride ceramics
with CNTs and boron nitride nanotubes to create a material that can withstand up to 1,000°C, has a
high level of flexibility and can absorb neutron radiation. We can also consider alloys to be used
however these are quite heavy and CNTs seem like the lighter and more efficient alternative. Since
we will be using additive manufacturing, we will use CNTs and a new material being developed for
additive manufacturing through 3D printing known as GRCop-42, a copper-chromium-niobium alloy.

Construction (Time and Location):

Constructing a rocket that carries people into outer space is a difficult process and requires much
time and precision. For a basic mission to space, SpaceX can manufacture a rocket within 18 months
and send it out. This changes however when we consider the payload, in this case passengers and
mass amounts of supplies. NASA rockets that are built to take people into space require around 5
years to construct and this is a major setback since the outline of this project requires as to leave
Earth as soon as possible. The more time we spend manufacturing a rocket, the more uninhabitable
Earth becomes. We also need to factor in the part of the project where we plan on taking around 5
separate rocket missions which will dock together in space to form a big main ship which only
increases our construction time. However, NASA research over the last few years has improved
building time for rockets which could be beneficial to this project. We can achieve shorter build
times using a method known as additive manufacturing, currently in use by NASA and a company
known as Relativity Space. They have managed to reduce build times for new rockets by almost 10
times compared to older manufacturing by 3D printing their rocket parts. “What used to be 200
pieces welded together can now be printed as one or two solid parts” (Lockney, 2024). This method
of manufacturing cuts our time from an estimate of almost 25 years to less than 10 to construct all 5
rockets. We will use Relativity Space’s 4th generation Stargate metal 3D printer to build our rockets,
ensuring both quality and efficiency. The current headquarters and manufacturing facility of
Relativity Space is in Long Beach, California and we also hope to extensively test these rockets upon
completion at NASA’s Stennis Space Center.

Course:
We plan to use a similar route to the 2020 Mars Perseverance mission spacecraft. However, we will
make sure that we adjust the course to the technical specifications of our rocket since we our being
powered by a stronger rocket. We will also need to take into consideration the size of our main ship
which could also affect the duration of the journey. We estimate a time of 3 months from the launch
of the final spacecraft, which accounts for the size and speed of the Orbita Main Ship with NTP
systems.

Waste Management:
Waste management is a significant issue during our mission, especially considering the duration and
scale of this mission. With a main spacecraft that will need to dispose the waste of almost a 100
people over a course of 2-3 months, even longer if complications do arise during the trip, it is
something that needs to be taken into deep consideration. The spacecraft will be equipped with
around 20 toilets and adequate waste disposal facilities. We plan to implement a system known as
OSCAR, full-form Orbital Syngas/Commodity Augmentation Reactor, which is essentially a “trash-to-
gas” system. “Astronaut generated waste presents several problems for humans aboard a
spacecraft. In one year, a crew of four can generate approximately 2,600 kilograms of trash that
astronauts have to store on the spacecraft” (Sempsrott, n.d.). All this excessive weight can make the
spacecraft to be inefficient by utilizing to much fuel. The OSCAR system allows human waste and
trash to be disposed of and converted into fuel that can be used in for the rocket. This is a great way
to manage waste disposal as we are effectively ridding the spacecraft of excessive use of space and
supplies to manage the waste and helps with providing more fuel for the spacecraft.

Disease Management:
Astronauts will receive medical training that enables them to respond and treat problems that may
arise during the mission. It will allow them to utilize onboard equipment to treat those health issues
and if needed, make the right diagnosis to allow for treatment. The program which decides who we
bring on the mission also makes space for medical professionals as part of the wide variety of
professions we are choosing to bring along to ensure the missions success. !!!!

Diet And Sustainability:

Functionality:
Recreation/Leisure:

Sleep:

Entertainment:

Faults And Malfunctions During Flight:

Off-Course/Course Correction:

Hull Breach:

Potential For Prolonged Mission:

Health

Base

Geographical Startup

Before building a base on mars, we must locate the most geographically gifted place on mars. In the
sense that it’s rich in minerals and has a bearable climate/environment. Such places on Mars are the
plains of Arcadia Planitia and the valleys of Deuteronilus Mensae. These regions contain the best of
both worlds having the most water and sunlight. Furthermore, these regions lie in the northern
midlatitudes, which benefit landing due to its low elevation.

(Low elevation → Spacecraft slow down (friction)

 Fig.1. & Fig.2. is a geothermal map showing
the elevation and thermal environment of
regions. Arcadia Planitia is an ideal landing
spot as it contains icy plateaus which hold
water.

Figure 3 Digital terrain models and radar

soundings from the (SHARAD) to reveal the
composition of resources around Arcadia
Planitia. As well it’s layout and crater
formation.

Therefore, the No of people less than 100 → self-sustaining → Genetic diversity

A mathematical proof by Jean-Marc Scalotti denotes that the, working time req < working
capacity. This implies that there’s more time for work to complete tasks than needed. Which is a
great benefit as tasks can be completed more optimally and be reviewed/refined to meet
standards. As the quantity of people grow, there’s a higher need for survivability, moreover,
objects and resources can be shared amongst people. Eventually, the working time req will grow
slower than working time capacity. Thus, above a minimum no of individuals (n), survivability is
possible and it can be induced that survivability is only possible if working requirements <
working capacity.

Figure 1  can be achieved by looking at Fig. 1. (The point of

intersection where both axis’s meet, proposes
) Therefore the minimum people needed for a
successful survival on mars = 110. Furthermore, Fig. 1.
Shows the linear relationship between both measures,
as the WT req becomes lower as  becomes larger d
(due to sharing factors). 110 is also displayed to be the
optimal number as anything > n has WT caps being
greater than WT req. Fig. 2 distributes the workload
for each zone, comparing with a ratio of 1:110. This is
also shown through the following equation:
However, new research from George mason university shows that this number ( ) can be
reduced to 22 people (2023). Although this study isn’t reliable as it’s based on personality types
stating that if all colonists shared the “agreeable” personality type, then N can be reduced to 22.
Salotti further disclaims this stating that: "For a colony, a simple dispute or conflict could
lead to a disaster”. “Building and sustaining an autonomous colony on Mars
requires more people with a greater range of knowledge and skills to overcome the
challenges they would face”.

Although 22 people may survive for a given time, they cannot thrive (Salotti, 2023).

The efficacy of colony development can be split into 5 zones;

Z1 – Ecosystem management
Zone 1 consists of activities which maintain and design the ecosystem, for the creation
of needed gases, air composition/pressure, habitable temperatures, water production,
waste management and agriculture. When all these factors are managed, liveability
increases as human needs for survival are met.

Z2 – Energy production (electrolysis)

Due to the lack of fossil fuels on Mars, the optimum energy system would be a hybrid of
photovoltaic and wind energy. Despite the low density on Mars, winds speeds are fast enough to
compete against nuclear power. Research has shown the performance of these hybrids with
many different compositions.
 Z3 – Building
Due to the evolution of the settlement, bases will be frequently reorganized to account for (no of
settler, Workspaces, industries, etc). The main base will be built next to local supplies for
constant implementation, and new zones will be made including ecosystems and factories. The
base’s design shares similarities with Genesis V.2 but with the addition of greenhouses and
artificial ecosystems. Furthermore, it’ll be built near the landing site (Arcadia Planitia); {40–60°
North and 150–180° West, straddling partly in the Cebrenia quadrangle (MC-07), and partly
in the Diacria one (MC-02), centred at 47.2°N 184.3°E.} Due to its smooth topography
consisting of minimal slopes, Arcadia is an optimum location for base startups. Moreover,
many craters are present which contain ice at low altitudes. Ultimately exposing “extra” ice
which is nearly 100% dust free. The following figures are concepts to accommodate a growing
colony on mars.

Figure 4 Figure 5
Figure 6

Domes can be used for outside

projects, such as artificial
greenhouses and plant production.
Whilst Fig. 5. Would be the main home
for settlers as it contains the best
habitable zone for settler. By using
the concept of an “Ice home” to situate
settlers underground and
counteract radiation with layers of ice. The site location exemplifies this due to its abundance in
natural ice and its capability for terraforming.

Z4 - Industry
In this domain the main activities include extracting, mining, collecting, and processing relevant
ores. To make materials, objects and tools needed for agriculture or other practices. Primarily,
the industry zone involves the creation of man-made goods from natural resources (local or
imported from Earth).
Z5 Recreational & social activities
The last domain consists of recreational/social activities, to drive the development of
settlements. This involves raising and educating children, as well as general activities (cooking,
cleaning, organization, and decision making). Even amidst survival it’s crucial to implement time
for sport and recreational activities to foster positive psychological growth. Times can be
minimized for survival but not eliminated.

Renewable Energy system

Fig. 7. displays a pumping kite-shaper power system, utilizing a flexible membrane (remote
controlled).Which operates in pumping cycles.
Figure 7 For transportation Fig. 7. will be
packed into a compact volume
due to its inflatable properties.
The generator has a nominal
power of 18kW, averaging an
output of 7kW given good wind
conditions. To counter low
density/wind on Mars the wing’s
surface area is increased and is
complete with photovoltaic
cells and electrical storage. The
systems operations can be split
into 5 key components: (Power management → Energy storage → Central control → and 2 energy
generation subsystems). Subsystems 1 (primary) runs on wind energy, using a flying kite to
convert the wind’s kinetic energy to an aerodynamic and tether force. Which’s converted by the
ground reeling mechanism (Figure 7) and generator into electrical/shaft power. To balance
energy production and consumption from pumping cycles, the subsystem contains its own
super-capacitator and control unit. Subsystem 2 utilizes solar pv and uses 2 mechanisms of dust
protection and tilting, enabling the best incidence angle of radiation.

Figure 8 The storage system is divided into 2 repositories: short-term and long-term. Short
term storage includes lithium-sulphur batters for nights and the long-term system
includes the compression of CO2 into underground cavities for months of lower resource
availability. Mars is comprised of 95% CO2 fuelling the long-term storage systems. With the
combine efforts of all 5 components work to ensure successful outcomes from the main energy
system. The relationship of these components can be seen adjacent in Fig. 8. .

Required Materials
• Lithium Batteries
• RTG’s
 • Kevlar
• Titanium alloy/aluminium
• Copper
• Carbon fibre/polyester

Required Materials for Mars colony

ICE HOUSE MATERIALS:

Earth Mars
• Carbon fibre Glass • Regolith
• Inflatable membrane • Ice
• Silica fibres • Water
• CO2 • CO2
• Translucent ice
• Aerogel

The icehouse will be 3d printed beforehand by deployed rovers/robots who will extract
materials and 3d print base structures. This is exemplified by a 10 step process.

Descent → Landing → Terraformation (minor)→ Extraction → Foundation → Inflation →

Airlocks → Printing (inner shell/ice) → Print (outer shell) → (agriculture).

Geodesic Domes Materials

• Carbon fibre glass
• Aluminium
• Metal sheets
• Plastic
• Struts (20 faces x 6 struts per face = 120 struts)

Since domes must be pressurized, they generally cannot exceed 100 meters. Utilising the
3v structure with icosahedral faces, 120 struts would be required for constructing a dome
of 100m in diameter, and 11meters in height. A concept sketch can be seen below:

Figure 9
 Figure 10

Greenhouses (artificial)

Given Mars’s atmospheric composition (96% CO2) the potential for greenhouses on Mars is
possible. Studies by Dutch researchers, show that crops such as tomatoes, cress and mustard
are compatible with regolith (Martian soil). However, alfalfa plants should be prioritized to grow
first as these plants act as fertilizer to grow other crops. Conducted tests display Alfalfa growing
on regolith (simulated) as well as it does on Earth, without excess fertilizer. The simulated regolith
was then tested with Alfalfa as fertilizer and results show the successful growth of turnips,
radishes, and lettuces. Although fresh water was needed for this growth, researched suggests
that the alkaline water of Mars could be induced with marine bacteria before being filtered
through volcanic water. After this fresh water would be produced. Not only would these open
opportunities for a variation of crops, but it is also more cost effective than transporting tonnes
of food from Earth.

Since the “greenhouse effect”, must take place the greenhouse’s must be built from transparent
materials such as carbon fibre glass (seen in Fig.10.) for photosynthesis. As the Mars isn’t
exposed as much to the sun as Earth, artificial lightning will be needed to supplement plant
growth. It’ll be insulated at elevated temperatures with a minimum of 20 degrees, as
photosynthesis thrives in these temperatures. The Mars foundation has constructed numerous
concepts involving underground grow rooms, water shields and sliding greenhouse situated
inside a hill. These greenhouses will be pressurized as the atmosphere pressure on Earth is
100kPa while Mars’s is <1kPA which’s too low for human and plant life. The best designs involve
translucent geodesic domes as discussed in domes. The average human (adult) consumes 2.7kg
of food per day or 985 kg per annum. Therefore, a tonne of food for each colonist per year is a
good target range. This number would range from 22t/y – 110t/y , where t represents tonnes and
y represents years respectively. If food were to be transported, the most effective would be
dehydrated foods, foods with high energy and long shelf life. Examples include nuts, dried meats,
and concentrated juice.

A meal plan has been created (from natural grown crops on Mars) to further visualize the
catering/meal consumption on Mars.

Orbita Meal catering

This plan is interactive which allows for filtration and editing in meals for dietary requirements,
age, and other factors. Furthermore, the meal plan consists of 7 options throughout the week for
breakfast lunch and dinner. Therefore, there’s a total of 73 meal combinations equating to 343
unique meals. With this many combinations colonists will have a diverse diet,
combatting repetition and ensuring compliance.

Working professions

Given N the minimum no of people can be expressed into the following

inequality:
22 <   101.
As such there’ll be a variety of jobs needed for a successful colony on Mars. These jobs range can
be split into the following categories:

C1 – Operations & Construction

C1 revolves around building and maintaining the
• Engineers colony’s equipment, transportation, and infrastructure.
• Mechanics
C2 focuses on researching and investigating Mars’s
• Astronauts resources and developing ways for survivability.
C2 – Science and Research C3 includes education, and information systems which
• Scientists drive the functionality of the colony.
• Farmers/Botanists C4 covers the physical and mental wellbeing of
C3 – Support and Administration colonists, providing daily checkups on colonists to
ensure positive health. As well as educate and promote
healthy practices to all ages, which works to improve
self-care and the overall health of the colony.
 • Teachers/educators
• Managers
• Communications/IT specialists

C4 – Health & Wellbeing

• Medical experts (Doctors, nurses, etc)

• Counsellors/Psychologists

Why not other planets?

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