Mars direct - A simple, robust, and cost effective architecture for the Space Exploration Initiative

Zubrin, Robert; Baker, David; Gwynne, Owen

doi:10.2514/6.1991-329

Cited by 81 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Many previous studies have examined the use of Martian resources for ascent vehicle propellant production [5,6]. One of the most effective propellant combinations is methane and oxygen, but previous uncertainties in the availability of easily extractable Martian water has limited the concepts to production of oxygen only (extracted from the carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere) or, at best, the importation of terrestrial hydrogen for use in a combination of water electrolysis and Sabatier processes.…”

Section: Ascent Propellantmentioning

confidence: 99%

A water rich mars surface mission scenario

Hoffman

Andrews

Joosten³

et al. 2017

2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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-In an on-going effort to make human Mars missions more affordable and sustainable, NASA continues to investigate the innovative leveraging of technological advances in conjunction with the use of accessible Martian resources directly applicable to these missions. One of the resources with the broadest utility for human missions is water. Many past studies of human Mars missions assumed a complete lack of water derivable from local sources. However, recent advances in our understanding of the Martian environment provides growing evidence that Mars may be more "water rich" than previously suspected. This is based on data indicating that substantial quantities of water are mixed with surface regolith, bound in minerals located at or near the surface, and buried in large glacier-like forms. This paper describes an assessment of what could be done in a "water rich" human Mars mission scenario. A description of what is meant by "water rich" in this context is provided, including a quantification of the water that would be used by crews in this scenario. The different types of potential feedstock that could be used to generate these quantities of water are described, drawing on the most recently available assessments of data being returned from Mars. This paper specifically focuses on sources that appear to be buried quantities of water ice. (An assessment of other potential feedstock materials is documented in another paper.) Technologies and processes currently used in terrestrial Polar Regions are reviewed. One process with a long history of use on Earth and with potential application on Mars -the Rodriguez Well -is described and results of an analysis simulating the performance of such a well on Mars are presented. These results indicate that a Rodriguez Well capable of producing the quantities of water identified for a "water rich" human mission are within the capabilities assumed to be available on the Martian surface, as envisioned in other comparable Evolvable Mars Campaign assessments. The paper concludes by capturing additional findings and describing additional simulations and tests that should be conducted to better characterize the performance of the identified terrestrial technologies for accessing subsurface ice, as well as the Rodriguez Well, under Mars environmental conditions.

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Section: Ascent Propellantmentioning

confidence: 99%

A water rich mars surface mission scenario

Hoffman

Andrews

Joosten³

et al. 2017

2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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“…This list is not exhaustive. Water could be generated on Mars by importing H 2 from Earth and combining it to O from local CO 2 (Zubrin et al 1991) but, even though H represents only 11% by weight of pure H 2 O, relying on imported H 2 would strongly limit the autonomy and sustainability of human outposts. However, water can be found in various forms throughout Mars (reviewed in Tokano 2005;Rapp 2007 andCockell 2014).…”

Section: Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is however much less attractive than CH 4 , among other reasons because of its very low density which induces a need for specialized combustion apparatus. In the Mars Direct plan (Baker & Zubrin 1990;Zubrin et al 1991;Zubrin & Wagner 2011) ) under a 99% argon (Ar), 1% CO 2 atmosphere . Recently, levels of about 25 µmol mg Chl a −1 h −1 were also reached with A. cylindrica cultures under high CO 2 /low N conditions (Murukesan et al 2015).…”

Section: Producing Biofuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable life support on Mars – the potential roles of cyanobacteria

Verseux

Baqué

Lehto

et al. 2015

International Journal of Astrobiology

144

136

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Even though technological advances could allow humans to reach Mars in the coming decades, launch costs prohibit the establishment of permanent manned outposts for which most consumables would be sent from Earth. This issue can be addressed by in situ resource utilization: producing part or all of these consumables on Mars, from local resources. Biological components are needed, among other reasons because various resources could be efficiently produced only by the use of biological systems. But most plants and microorganisms are unable to exploit Martian resources, and sending substrates from Earth to support their metabolism would strongly limit the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of their cultivation. However, resources needed to grow specific cyanobacteria are available on Mars due to their photosynthetic abilities, nitrogen-fixing activities and lithotrophic lifestyles. They could be used directly for various applications, including the production of food, fuel and oxygen, but also indirectly: products from their culture could support the growth of other organisms, opening the way to a wide range of life-support biological processes based on Martian resources. Here we give insights into how and why cyanobacteria could play a role in the development of self-sustainable manned outposts on Mars.

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“…Many proposals for human transit to Mars call for artificial gravity, to be induced by spinning some or all of the spacecraft [Capps, Fowler, & Appleby, 1991; Schultz, Rupp, Hajos, & Butler, 1989; Staehle, 1989;Welch, 1985;Zubrin, Baker, & Gwynne, 1991]. This introduces many complications regarding structural loads and mass, launch and deployment, docking, propulsion, and configuration of communications dishes, solar collectors, and radiators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Architectural Considerations for a Minimum Mass, Minimum Energy, Artificial Gravity Environment

Hall

2002

SAE Technical Paper Series

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Adaptation to artificial gravity is easiest when the radius and tangential velocity are large. To minimize mass and kinetic energy, economics pushes in the opposite direction, toward small radius and tangential velocity. To promote adaptation to such an environment, habitat designers must pay particular attention to the arrangement of internal activities, with respect to varying magnitudes and directions of centripetal and Coriolis accelerations. This involves the orientation of habitat modules with respect to the rotation axis, the modules' interior layout, and possibly other visual cues to help inhabitants maintain their own spatial orientation with respect to the spin.

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Mars direct - A simple, robust, and cost effective architecture for the Space Exploration Initiative

Cited by 81 publications

References 6 publications

A water rich mars surface mission scenario

A water rich mars surface mission scenario

Sustainable life support on Mars – the potential roles of cyanobacteria

Architectural Considerations for a Minimum Mass, Minimum Energy, Artificial Gravity Environment

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