2015 RASC-AL Competition Team Date: April 23, 2015 Purpose: Design a conceptual permanent self-sustaining Martian base with a concentration on in-situ resource utilization Josiah Emery Brian Crane Josh Mann Logan Coard Zach Desocio Andrew German Steven Trenor Jon Buttram Jonathan Ricci Gregory Greene Ian Nemetz- Gardener
24
Embed
Date: April 23, 2015 Purpose: Design a conceptual permanent self-sustaining Martian base with a concentration on in-situ resource utilization Josiah Emery.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
2015 RASC-AL Competition Team
Date: April 23, 2015
Purpose: Design a conceptual permanent self-sustaining Martian base with a concentration on in-situ resource utilization
Power and Energy SystemsRadiation effects on MarsIn-situ Plastic ProductionStructure DesignWater productionMechanical Properties: Martian PermafrostAdditional areas (analyzed but not
discussed):Food productionTransportation
Base Design ElementsBrian Crane
Power and Energy SystemsJonathan Ricci and Hunter GreeneRapid-L nuclear reactor
5 MW of thermal energy200 KW of electrical energy
Solar panel arraysReliability Initial power source
Fuel cellsRadioisotope powered rovers
Rapid-L Nuclear Reactor
Radiation Effects on MarsIan Nemetz-Gardner and Jonathan ButtramTypes of radiation
Neutron FluxGalactic CosmicHigh and low Linear Energy Transfer (LET)Rapid-L radiation
Radiation levels on MarsProtection Methods
Regolith shieldingLiquid methane and water
Expert ConsultationDr. Britten of EVMS
The Sabatier Reaction• CO2 (g) + 4 H2 (g) CH4 + 2 H2O
Structure DesignLogan Coard and Zach DesocioBase Size
Supports 24 people Size: Approximately 1540 m3
Structure ShapeFour cylindrical modules connected with airlock
chambers (7 m Diameter, 10 m Long)Inflatable structures
Can support up to 5 m of regolithEstimated life span: 20 yearsPressurized bladder with Vectran exoskeleton Mylar and Dacron due to decompostition of Vectran
NASA Langley Inflatable Structure
BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module)
Water ProductionJosh MannWater is an essential resource for all base systemsPossible sources of water:
Equatorial brine streaks (unreliable)Subsurface permafrost in northern polar region
Extraction system:Fracture regolith-ice layersTransport to rock crusher
Mining machinery analogPressurized tank for water evaporation
Thermal energy from Rapid-L
Approximate analysis60 kg of water from a 12 hour cycle and 1 MW of thermal
energy
Mechanical Properties: Martian PermafrostBrian CraneColonization is feasible because of water
Mechanical properties of permafrost needed Three point bend test at NASA Langley
No access to actual Martian JSC-1a Martian regolith simulant Volcanic sand from an island in Hawaii
Water content selection 15 to 35% by mass water in increments of 5% Additional samples: 2% by NaCL
Temperature selection -140 C (130.15 K): minimum surface temperature -63 C (210.15 K): average surface temperature -20 C (253.15 K): typical summer temperature
Conclusions:Breaking force increases with water contentStrength is minimal at 15% or lower water contentPermafrost appears stronger at -63 C (210.15 K)
Decrease in strength at other temperatures Rock crushing is a feasible option
At low concentrations, the effects of temperature were minimal
Influence of brine on sample strength is unclear Does not appear to be a problem