One Mars Society project could be the laundry machine. Developing a laundry machine for ISS is more difficult, but we could develop one for Mars. It would just be an RV washer/dryer combo. For Mars we would reduce weight, for example using aircraft grade titanium alloy for the drum, and aluminum alloy for the case. By "case" I mean the sides, front, back, top, bottom of the appliance. Commercial ones already use LED controls. Power would have to be compatible with spacecraft power system. ISS uses unusual power; high voltage and high frequency AC. And it would need laundry soap compatible with the water recycling system. That would probably be laundry soap rather than detergent.
Some examples of RV washer/dryer combo: here
I also agree that insitu developement can be utilized as practice uses for a mars colony safely here on earth for lots of items to which we might someday use on mars, such as backup power generation from mars simulated fuels being stored, excess fuels can also be used for the ATV as mentioned as well as any airial devices or rocket hopping units. We could use dry ice and control the process times in the simulation of fuel creation at the quantities that we would be able to make on mars. Not to meantion trying out an atmospheric water desicant panel creation system, Soil water simulations and so much more.
A msdr cookbook could also be used to aid in nutricinal as well as mean planning for the eventual mars journey. To which making use of a greenhouse plant growth program to suppliment the dried foods that we would be making use of. This allow for time to plant to harvest mind set developement for what we want to eat on a daily basis.
3 D priniting units are only as good as the supplied materials to feed them with and until we develope the isitu means to create that feed stock they are going to be a nicety to have but not essential.
]]>- Promulgate a "Maker_Mars" program for MakerSpaces to produce EVA Experiments for the MDRS.
- Execute a SIM for Remote Piloting of a Supply Ship (UAV) to the Analog(s).
- TMS to Initiate Radio Communications to ALL Analogs on Earth (the way it should be - with no borders).
- Fabricate and use an ISRU device to produce Methane to fuel the Converted ATVs.
- Make an inexpensive Ground Penetrating Radar for fitting onto the Hab's Rover.
- Have and Encourage, Licensed Amateur Radio Operators for ALL Crew Members AND Mission Control.
- Gamma & Cosmic Ray Detector PERMANENTLY at the Habs.
- Improved EVA Suit DEDICATED TELEMETRY devices for Health & Position Monitoring ( NO GPS ! ).
- Geodesics Program, with Magneto-Metric and EM-I Detectors for Complete-Subsurface-Tomography.
- Sell MDRS Cook Books - proceeds go to The Mars Society.
- 3D Print a New Series of EVA Helmets WITH Heads Up Display linked to the Habs.
- Make use of RF Beacons and Line-of-Sight Communications (you're gonna need it, trust me).
- Test Different protocols of Telemetry under low-power & high-interference conditions.
- Determine best locations in Tharsis Region for Lava Tube Habitats for protection from harsh radiation.
- Produce a mock up of the Sample-Return Mission.
- MAKE the devices that are onboard the Sample-Return Mission ( might just actually go there ! ).
- Write "a proper" Technical Manual for the MDRS in Apollo Style ( not a camping booklet ).
- A Full-Sized, Permanent-Based ROVER, Power generated by Solar and Methane Generator to Battery Storage.
- A Single Prop (methane fueled), Ares Rocket-Plane Style of Drone, for FLIR Photogrammetry Survey of entire Hab area.
Of course, people will post whinny remarks about "we don't have money" or the typical "ahem.. no can do"
I DID mention about MakerSpace as the vehicle for "Maker_Mars", yeah?
Google them up, find one in your area, physically ask them, and make things happen, make us proud.
Simple.
The objective is to get the enthusiasts to actually make things that can actually be sent to MDRS, FMARS, Mars.
An excellent topic Robert.. thank you !
Dave
"If we put our mind to it we could be on Mars in 10 years."
NASA's timeframe is a little longer. The first step is to land astronauts on an asteroid around 2024, then it hopes to land astronauts on the Red Planet in the 2030s.
In the meantime it is testing out a range of technologies on the International Space Station, exploring the surface of Mars with robot landers, and developing space suits, exploration vehicles and deep space habitats to help astronauts live and work on Mars.
According to Dr Clarke, there are five key issues we need to look at in preparation for sending people to Mars.
http://www.ezdia.com/blog/top-5-interac … ing-tools/ ] TOP 5 INTERACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TOOLS
]]>Some examples of RV washer/dryer combo: here
]]>item progress
supple suit zero
artificial gravity zero
personnel-to-orbit some but awfully slow (commercial crew transport)
The MCP suit idea can be enhanced dramatically if you think of the compression garment as nothing but underwear, over which you wear outer protective clothing that deflects hazards and insulates. Your compression underwear is less vulnerable to tears and to getting dirty that way, although it still requires laundering for bodily excretions. Your protective outerwear can be easily laundered and repaired. I think regolith dust contamination inside the habitat can be controlled better, if you strip off the outerwear in the airlock.
If there's anything that could be done by the Mars Society, it's that suit. Such a garment can be developed and tested down here. All you need is a vacuum chamber for the ultimate demo. Otherwise, its compression just balances your breathing gas overpressure for testing out in the atmosphere, just like Paul Webb did in the 60's. No fancy government facilities required.
GW
]]>Got reading a bit of the initial posts and they were very laid out in what we needed to work on for technology to allow for a Mars mission survival and since we know that they were made a decade ago we can now measure the efforts that Nasa has made towards these items.
]]>Does GPS work in LEO for accurate 3-D positioning? Can GPS be supplemented with other electronic sources and integrated with the gyros for real time nav data?
Yes, GPS does work in LEO. I believe it has already been tested.
Manuevering thrusters need to work during main engine burns, no? That generates gee force, right?
Correct. That sounds like the thrusters should work.
]]>The physics of orbit make anything there effectively weightless as long as it isn't large enough to experience differential gravity. A space colony several kilometres long would have to be placed in high orbit to avoid those differentials. We would use a much shorter tether than that, so Earth's gravity wouldn't interfere with artificial gravity.
]]>Artifical G, as proposed, would take place in LEO, right?
Wouldn't the gravitational effect of Earth prevent the physics of this working out?
I imagine the 'rubbish rocket' flying in orbit around earth, with the Soyuz circiling the 'rubbish rocket'- this would place the Soyuz perpendicular to the plane of the rocket, as well as Earth... or do i have the wrong impression?
]]>GPS plus enhanced gyros and other avionic upgrades would seem the largest cost category. Manuevering thrusters need to work during main engine burns, no? That generates gee force, right? But unless we ask a Soyuz guy, i am merely guessing, without the credentials to even guess badly. . .
Might the Mars Society benefit from an attempt to broker funding from various private sources, seeking only favorable publicity for itself? Even if nothing happens very fast?
Discovery Channel could do a program on the entire project. Garmin (they make GPS units) might sponsor part of the
avionics cost if spotlighted on the Discover Channel program. Being a Russian project, European interests might well invest for marketing purposes. etc. . .
Ideas on how to proceed? Isn't controlled tethered flight rather essential to MarsDirect, to combat microgravity?
= = =
Supplement - Check out this article concerning a plan to dock two Soyuz at the ISS as emergency crew return vessels. Twice as many Soyuz to do tether experiements with when they are rotated consistent with the pre-existing schedule. . .
]]>