Mars habitat

Overview

One of the challenges for Mars habitats is maintaining the climate, especially the right temperature in the right places. Things like electronics and lights generate heat that rises in the air, even as there are extreme temperature fluctuation outside.

Technologies

Breathing gas

While it is possible for humans to breathe pure oxygen, a pure oxygen atmosphere was implicated in the Apollo 1 fire. As such, Mars habitats may have a need for additional gases. One possibility is to take nitrogen and argon from the atmosphere of Mars; however, they are hard to separate from each other. As a result, a Mars habitat may use 40% argon, 40% nitrogen, and 20% oxygen.

Another concept for breathing air is to use re-usable amine bead carbon monoxide scrubbers. While one carbon monoxide scrubber filters the astronauts air, the other is vented to the Mars atmosphere. (Argox)

History

One early idea for a Mars habitat was to use put short stay accommodation in a Mars ascent-descent vehicle. This combination was called a Mars Excursion Module, and also typically featured other components such as basic rover and science equipment. Later missions tended to shift to a dedicated descent/ascent with a separate habitat.

In 2013 ZA architects proposed having digging robots build a Mars habitat underground. They chose an interior inspired by Fingal's Cave and noted the increased protection from high-energy radiation below ground. On the other hand, the issue of the difficulty of sending digging robots that must construct the habitat versus landing capsules on the surface was also noted. An alternative may be to build above ground, but use thick ice to shield from radiation but with advantage that it lets visible light in.

In 2015 the SHEE project noted the idea of autonomous construction and preparation for Mars habitat versus human construction.

NASA competitions and programs

In early 2015 NASA outlined a conceptual plan for three stage Mars habitat design and construction award program. The first stage is a design only, then in the next stage a construction technology based using discarded spacecraft components is conducted, and finally building an actual habitat for Mars using 3D printing technology.

In September 2015, NASA announced the winners of its 3-D Printed Habitat Challenge. The winning submission titled 'Mars Ice House' by Clouds Architecture Office / SEArch proposed a 3D-printed double ice shell surrounding a lander module core. Two European teams were awarded runner up prizes. The contenders explored many possibilities for materials, with one suggesting separately refining iron and silica from the Martian dust and using the iron to make a lattice-work filled in with silca panels. There were 30 finalists selected from an initial pool of 165 entries in the habitat challenge.

The second-place winner proposed the printing robots build a shield out of in-situ materials around inflatable modules. Another NASA project that has developed extraterrestrial surface habitats is the X-Hab challenge and the Habitation Systems Project.

The Sfero House by Fabulous also a contender in the 3D Mars Habitat program, featured levels above and below ground level. The proposed location was Gale crater (of Curiosity rover fame) with a focus on using both in-situ iron and water which would hopefully be available there. It has a double walled spherical design filled with water to both keep the higher-pressure of Mars habitat in, but help protect against radiation.

Analog Mars missions

Mock Mars missions or Mars analog missions typically construct terrestrial habitats on Earth and conduct mock missions, taking steps to solve some of the problems that could be faced for one on Mars.

Biodomes

One example concept that is or is in support of habitat is a Mars biodome, a structure that could hold life generating needed oxygen and food for humans. An example of activity in support of this goals, was a program to develop bacteria that could convert the Martian regolith or ice into oxygen.