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#1 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » Yesterday 17:54:11

Officer training and culture should emphasize modern de-escalation tactics. Officers should create time and distance between themselves and a potential threat to allow for assessment and communication. Closing the gap quickly and compressing time increases fear on both sides and reduces options for peaceful resolution. Modern guidance encourages officers to back up and use cover when there is no immediate threat to life. Officers should use clear, calm communication, one instruction at a time, with simple choices rather than overlapping commands.

De-escalation means avoiding actions that manufacture an emergency when none exists. When force becomes necessary, it should be proportional, limited to interrupting an immediate threat, and stopped as soon as that threat ends. In many cases, patience, communication and distance prevent a momentary spike in fear from becoming a fatal bullet.

If we want fewer lives lost, we must stop treating each shooting as an isolated tragedy. The problem is not simply individual misconduct. Officers are not malicious. It is a system that rewards escalation, and normalizes confrontation. Until we change how officers assess risk, and interact with civilians, we will continue to call these deaths unavoidable.

Now onto the history: such the 1892 and 1954, 12 million people passed through the gates of Ellis Island in New York. These people were seeking freedom, a better and more prosperous life for themselves and for their children—and they wanted to be Americans.

No, they did not just want the title of being an American citizen; they wanted to truly adopt their new country; they wanted to know its history, customs, mores, and status in the world. Many, or most, were working-class people with very little material possessions.

Parrt of the desire to be American is not there for many that are here now and you can here it in there words as they speak.

#2 Re: Meta New Mars » kbd512 Postings » Yesterday 15:34:28

inputted image and question large double torus stiffness problem over long spans need analyzing

You’re poking right at the hard part of these forms—global stiffness over long, curved spans is where they get sneaky.

Key stiffness issues in a large double-torus truss
Global ring flexibility (hoop modes): 
The toroidal geometry wants to “ovalize” under asymmetric loads.

Problem: Low in-plane bending stiffness of the ring → large lateral deflections, especially midspan between supports.

Watch for: First few modes being global ovalization or “breathing” of the torus rather than local member bending.

Torsional softness of the ring: 
If the torus is essentially a single-layer truss ring, its torsional stiffness is often weak.

Problem: Eccentric loads (lighting, rigging, façade panels) twist the ring, causing out-of-plane rotations and secondary bending in chords.

Mitigation: Use a closed box-like section at the macro level—e.g., double chord top/bottom with diagonals forming a tube, or two concentric rings tied with radial webs.

Span-to-depth ratio of the truss: 
Long spans with shallow truss depth are inherently flexible.

Rule of thumb: For a primary long-span truss, depth ≈ span/15–20 is comfortable; much shallower and deflections dominate.

In a torus: “Depth” is the radial distance between inner and outer chords (or top/bottom chords if vertical). Too small → poor bending stiffness around the ring.

Local member buckling vs. global stability:

Compression chords: Long, lightly braced chords around the torus are prone to elastic buckling if panel lengths are large.

Bracing density: Panel length and diagonal layout control effective buckling length; large toroidal spans often need tighter panelization than straight trusses.

Support conditions and continuity:

Discontinuous rings: If the double torus is segmented (e.g., four quadrants bolted together), joint flexibility can dominate global stiffness.

Support layout: Few supports → large bending in the ring between them; many supports → more statically indeterminate, but stiffer and more redundant.

How to analyze stiffness (conceptual workflow)
Idealize as a ring/torus beam first (macro model):

Model: Treat each torus as a curved beam with equivalent ?? (bending) and ?? (torsion) derived from the truss.

Goal: Quickly see global deflections, ovalization, and sensitivity to support layout and span.

Derive equivalent section properties from the truss:

Axial stiffness of chords:??eq=∑???cos2(??)
Bending stiffness: Use chord separation (depth) and chord areas to get an equivalent ? about the ring’s local axes.

Torsional stiffness: If you have a closed truss tube, approximate ? from the chord layout; if it’s open, accept that ?? is small and design bracing accordingly.

Refine with a 3D truss FE model:

Nodes: At each panel point along the torus; include both toroids if it’s a “double” system.

Members: Chords, diagonals, verticals, and any cross-ties between the two tori.

Check:

Nodal displacements under worst-case load patterns.

Member forces and utilization.

Buckling factors (linear eigen-buckling) for global modes.

Pay attention to load patterns that “break symmetry”:

Partial loading: Half-ring or quarter-ring loads often govern deflection and member forces.

Eccentric loads: Loads offset from the ring centroid to excite torsion and out-of-plane bending.

Strategies to increase stiffness over long spans
Increase structural depth:

Radial depth: Separate inner and outer chords more; larger radius difference → higher in-plane bending stiffness.

Vertical depth: If the torus is vertical, increase distance between top and bottom chords.

Create a true closed tube:

Double torus as a box: Tie the two tori together with regular radial frames so they act as a single closed section.

Benefit: Huge gain in torsional stiffness and resistance to ovalization.

Densify bracing:

Shorter panels: More nodes, shorter members → higher buckling capacity and better distribution of forces.

Diagonal patterns: Use X-bracing or K-bracing patterns that stabilize both chords effectively.

Stiffen joints and segment connections:

Bolted flanges / sleeves: Ensure segment joints are not the weak link; rotational slop here kills global stiffness.

Pre-tensioned connections: Where possible, use preloaded bolts or clamps to reduce slip.

Optimize support scheme:

More supports: If feasible, add intermediate supports to reduce effective span between supports.

Support stiffness: Model support flexibility (e.g., base plates, anchors) realistically—soft supports can negate gains in the truss.

A quick gut-check for your design
If you tell me:

Major radius (centerline of torus), Minor radius / truss depth, Number of panels, Chord sizes, and Support locations,

I can walk through a rough equivalent ??, estimate deflections over the longest span, and flag where the double-torus concept is likely to feel “soft” versus robust.

What’s the approximate diameter and depth of the double torus you’re thinking about, and is it for a stage, a roof, or something more permanent?

it indicates that the secondary members made from 30×2 mm is fine. but the primary need to be Much larger chord tubes (think on the order of 150–400 mm OD, with sensible wall thickness), and  Real truss depth between chords and between the two tori to build up ?eff.
That is an ouch to support the regolith mass...

150–400 mm OD 4–12mm wall thickness

Truss depth (within each torus) 1–3m between inner/outer or top/bottom chords

Separation between the two tori 20–30m center‑to‑center (this is the single biggest lever on global stiffness)

Panel length 5–10m spacing between nodes

#3 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » Yesterday 15:09:52

It looks like it was a scam system that late 2025, federal authorities had charged over 90 individuals, the vast majority of whom are of Somali descent. These cases involve a complex network of nonprofits and businesses that allegedly submitted fake claims, such as billing for services never provided.

So the AI tools of the computer programs got fooled....as it seems that no one investigated the non profits to see if they were legit. It also means that the consumer protection laws did not function as they should have caught it.

I think all states have a bit of fraud going on and its those laws that were create to protect that are failing. Such as in my case...

Fraud against government services is a widespread, multi-state issue in the United States, with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimating annual federal losses due to fraud between $233 billion and $521 billion (based on data from 2018-2022). In 2025 alone, False Claims Act (FCA) recoveries—a primary tool for combating this fraud—reached a record-breaking $6.8 billion, with a significant portion of the fraud concentrated in healthcare, particularly Medicare, Medicaid, and pandemic-relief programs.

Here is a breakdown of the current landscape of government fraud across U.S. states.

1. Most Targeted Programs and Services
Criminals frequently target programs with high transaction volumes and, at times, relaxed eligibility requirements, such as those implemented during the pandemic.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): Large-scale fraud rings have used stolen identities to file fraudulent PUA claims in multiple states simultaneously.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Card skimming is a major issue, where criminals place devices on retailer machines to steal EBT card information.

Medicare/Medicaid Fraud: Fraudulent billing, telemedicine scams, and genetic testing scams are highly prevalent, accounting for over 80% of FCA recoveries in 2025.

Child Care/Family Assistance: Recent investigations have flagged, and briefly frozen, funds for child care and TANF programs in certain states due to suspected widespread misuse.

SBA Disaster and Relief Loans: Ongoing investigations continue to convict individuals using stolen identities to obtain COVID-19 relief funds.

2. High-Risk States and Areas
Fraud is not limited to one region, but certain states have recently seen higher concentrations of reported cases or investigations:
California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado: These states were highlighted in 2026 by federal officials for potential "extensive and systematic fraud" in state-administered social services.

Minnesota: Has been identified as a hub for complex fraud rings targeting state, child care, and food programs.

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada: These states were recently linked in a multi-state conspiracy case regarding stolen identities for SNAP and PUA benefits.

Texas: Reported the highest total losses ($2.1 million) in early 2025 tax-related scams.

Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, District of Columbia: Ranked among the top areas for government benefits fraud and identity theft in 2025.

3. Key Fraud Tactics and Trends
EBT Skimming: In 2025, over 400 illegal skimming devices were removed, preventing roughly $428 million in potential losses, with major operations in states like Alabama and Ohio.

Identity Theft: Criminals use stolen Social Security numbers and personal information to apply for benefits, making it difficult for agencies to identify the real recipient.

Imposter Scams: Scammers spoof official numbers for government agencies (SSA, IRS) to steal personal data, with losses increasing by $171 million from 2023 to 2024.

Cyber-Fraud: False cybersecurity certifications to obtain government contracts resulted in over $52 million in recoveries in 2025.

4. Enforcement and Prevention
The DOJ has increased its focus on False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement, particularly through whistleblower (qui tam) lawsuits, which reached a record high in 2025. Federal agencies are increasingly using data analytics to proactively stop fraudulent payments, halting over $4.2 billion in fraudulent loans as of July 2024.

Tip: Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service, emphasize that legitimate government entities will never call or email to demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or ask for gift cards/cryptocurrency

I also know of one of my son's having his identity stolen as well that will never correct as the system does not heal or cleanse its files once found.

#4 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Starship repurposed to make or build what we need » Yesterday 13:46:41

here are the 4 deck layouts

file.php?id=234

file.php?id=233

file.php?id=232

file.php?id=231

Floor plan layouts are not set in stone and need to be altered as desired.

#5 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » Yesterday 13:26:46

Don't for get the Haitians, Guatemalans, ect...anyone that does not speak American and is not white or Caucasian.

We are becoming something that we were not destined to be....

#6 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Starship repurposed to make or build what we need » Yesterday 10:50:10

Have been continuing to work on using the starship 9 m shell laying on the ground to support a crew of 10 as built from each unit.
It is more like a submarine layout but its a build as we go approach.
There is an upper and lower deck making maximum internal space use.
Not requiring a large amount of equipment to take the shell apart.
Layout on the prepared surface area.
Insert internal wall support or ring tubing for structural support and add floors. area divides bring in crewed life support and integrate into the plan.
Begin airlock construction on the ends or one or if one is brought install it.
Utilizes empty ships shell leaving the remaining for later smelting.
Gut other internal system and reuse as needed for lighting, ventilation ect...to complete the units.
Place regolith to cover and inflate as the layers of it are put into place.
Greenhouse to support the 10 just fits with in 3 other conversions making use of crop height and both hydroponic and soils ground.
Depending on placement and maximizing the internal layouts its possible but close out of just 4 shells.
That leaves all payload to support other parts of the missions.

#8 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Ring Habitat on Mars Doughnut Torus » Yesterday 05:20:52

The torus inflatable as pressure is brought up will have sand bags of regolith place not only around but over it. It it the ones that are on the top which can slide or move around cause issue for load and another is the shape of the torus does not hold but flattens as regolith is placed that causes the outer walls to not fit tight to the inflatable. No amount of exoskeleton stainless will change this as the inflatable is not designed for load baring support as the torus sand bags are placed.

We also need a mat pad under the the torus ring inflatable to keep movement from cutting through as we work and live within it.
a sacrificial outer layer: tough, abrasion resistant fabric, maybe something like what is used on Nasa' ISS often referred to as Whipple shielding or sacrificial bumpers to keep this from happening.

once placed and partially inflated enough to take shape we will need to bring in the inner liners for the floor and rib support to build inside to keep loads off from the fabric of the inflatable. Only the floor has any load from the contents we bring inside.

The exoskeleton allows for the deforming inflatable as air pressure and loading of regolith bags placement happen to not happen. The outside exoskeleton frame is not being of any value if not to allow the inflatable to keep shape.

#9 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » Yesterday 04:18:28

I did not see the punch or missed it in the video will look again.

I think the issue of law has a big problem when we have town or city laws, state and even county law, with the over arching Federal Law with policy law (executive orders) blurring or trying to band aid real Federal Law which only congress is to fix.

Laws not aligning or being ignored is a problem at all tiers when they are to protect people without regard.

The Hierarchy of Laws: U.S. Legal Priority
In the United States, the legal structure functions through preemption. When laws at different levels conflict, the higher authority "wins."

  • []Federal Law (The Peak): Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, federal law is the "Supreme Law of the Land."
    []State Law: States have broad powers over anything not specifically assigned to the federal government.

  • Local Law (County/City): These are "creatures of the state" and derive their power from state constitutions or charters.

Who Goes First?
The order of authority is: Federal Constitution > Federal Statute > State Law > Local Ordinance.

Where Executive Orders Fit In
Executive orders (policy law) have the force of law, but they are not "above" statutes.

  1. []Authority: An Executive Order (EO) must be based on the Constitution or a law already passed by Congress.
    []Priority: A federal statute passed by Congress will trump an Executive Order if they conflict.

  2. Scope: A federal EO can preempt state law, but only if the President is acting within their constitutional or congressionally-granted authority.

The "Layers" of Priority:

U.S. Constitution
Federal Statutes (Laws from Congress)
Federal Executive Orders / Agency Regulations
State Constitutions
State Statutes
Local Ordinances (County/City)

Would you like to see an example of how this works in a specific area, such as:

#10 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » 2026-02-07 20:24:22

Assaulting a vehicle warrants a police report of vandalism call to 911 not direct untrained actions of a tantrum as if he owned the vehicle.

I am not arguing about whether immigration laws should exist and not just how they’re enforced.

“If you want stability, then the enforcement system must be predictable, trained, and professional — not tactical, inconsistent, or fear‑based.”

Right now, we have a mismatch between:

civil law, tactical training, public environments, inconsistent standards …creates instability.


Immigration agencies were built for: border interdiction, fugitive operations, tactical raids

Not:

public‑facing enforcement, civilian interactions, de‑escalation,  proportionality in mixed crowds

So the mismatch produces exactly what you saw: unnecessary confrontation, poor judgment, avoidable escalation, behavior that looks unprofessional

“These agents are doing a job they were not trained for, and the public is paying the price.”

#11 Re: Meta New Mars » kbd512 Postings » 2026-02-07 18:22:47

Thanks for the reminder to not mix units.

With that much pressure and downward force then the number of the layers for the inflatable goes up due to burst pressure.

#13 Re: Human missions » Block 3 starship first mission » 2026-02-07 15:18:58

Turning CO2 into rocket fuel: Elon Musk’s radical plan to save Earth and reach Mars

Elon Musk wants to turn one of humanity’s biggest problems into the fuel for its boldest journey. Instead of treating carbon dioxide as waste, he is pushing SpaceX to capture CO2 and convert it into methane and oxygen, creating a closed loop that could both cut emissions and power rockets to Mars. It is an audacious attempt to align climate technology with interplanetary ambition, using the same chemistry to clean the sky above Earth and sustain life on the surface of Mars.

At the heart of this vision is a simple idea with complex engineering behind it: if rockets can run on propellant made from captured carbon, then every launch becomes a testbed for climate solutions as well as space exploration. The question I keep returning to is not whether the chemistry works, which scientists have already demonstrated, but whether Musk can scale it fast enough to matter for both Mars and the climate.

From Mars dream to carbon-neutral propellant loop
Elon Musk has been explicit for nearly two decades that his personal goal is to enable human exploration and settlement of Mars, and SpaceX has built its entire long term roadmap around that target. The company’s Mars colonization program is designed around Starship, a fully reusable vehicle that, according to Elon Musk, will eventually rely on propellant synthesized from carbon dioxide and water to create carbon neutral methane and oxygen. That same architecture, originally conceived for Mars, is now being reinterpreted as a way to turn atmospheric CO2 into fuel on Earth as well.

In parallel, Musk has framed this fuel strategy as part of a broader climate agenda, arguing that rockets should not be exempt from decarbonization simply because they are a small slice of global emissions. Reporting on his push to use CO2 derived propellant notes that SpaceX is exploring technology to capture carbon from the air and convert it into methane, with the goal of supporting constantly affordable spacecraft capabilities that do not depend on fossil gas. That ambition is reflected in plans described in How SpaceX intends to convert atmospheric CO2 into rocket fuel, which would effectively turn the company’s Mars chemistry into a terrestrial climate tool.

The chemistry: Sabatier, electrolysis and “perfect fuel” methane
The technical backbone of Musk’s plan is a century old reaction that suddenly looks tailor made for Mars. The Sabatier process combines carbon dioxide with hydrogen to produce methane and water, and SpaceX has studied a Sabatier and water electrolysis system that would sit at the heart of a Mars base. In that scheme, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, the hydrogen reacts with Martian CO2 to form methane, and the oxygen is reserved for both oxidizer and life support, a flow described in detail in the Sabatier and Water Electrolysis Process schematic for a Single Starship. The same chemistry can be mirrored on Earth, with captured atmospheric CO2 feeding Sabatier reactors powered by renewable electricity.

Scientists are now refining that basic recipe to make it more efficient and better suited to real missions. Researchers at the University of California have demonstrated a catalyst that bypasses the intermediate step of producing hydrogen gas and instead converts CO2 directly into methane with high selectivity, a method described in their work on making methane on Mars. Other teams of Scientists have created new ways to convert methane into rocket fuel on Mars, validating concepts that Elon Musk and other engineers at SpaceX had theorized, with early experiments on Scientists converting methane into usable propellant on Mars described as very promising.

Carbon capture as launchpad: from climate tech to Mars logistics
For Musk, carbon capture is not just a climate patch, it is a logistical necessity if Starship is ever going to operate at the cadence he imagines. Analyses of Starship’s fuel demand point out that using conventional natural gas could nearly triple United States gas consumption for spaceflight, which is why some energy analysts have focused on how captured CO2 could be turned into methane at scale. One assessment of Starship’s methane supply notes that projects like Occidental’s plan to strip carbon from the air at roughly 200 dollars per kilogram of captured CO2 could feed into synthetic fuel production, a link drawn in a study of You Don and Have To Worry About Emissions From Mars Rocket The. That same analysis argues that if the methane is made from captured carbon, the net emissions from launches can be dramatically reduced.

Musk has also tried to push the broader carbon capture field forward by dangling money and missions. Tesla CEO Elon Musk launched a 100 million dollar prize for carbon removal and has signaled that SpaceX will be an early customer for any technology that can pull CO2 from the atmosphere cheaply enough to turn into fuel, a commitment described in coverage of his plan to Launch Carbon Capture and convert it to rocket propellant. In a separate announcement, The CEO took to social media to say that SpaceX is initiating a program to take CO2 from the atmosphere and transform it into rocket fuel, a pledge captured in video of The CEO outlining the initiative. I see that as a signal that the company wants to be both a buyer and a developer of carbon capture hardware, using its own launch pads as demonstration sites.

Building the Mars refueling network: from Gigabay to 2026 Starships
On the ground, SpaceX is racing to build the industrial backbone that would make this fuel loop more than a lab experiment. The company has begun site preparations for Gigabay in Florida, with construction targeted to finish so the facility can support a higher launch rate via rapid reusability, according to a recent update on the Site at Gigabay in Florida. That kind of high cadence launch complex is exactly where on site CO2 to methane plants could make economic sense, since every Starship flight would draw from the same synthetic fuel infrastructure.

In parallel, SpaceX is still publicly targeting its first dedicated Mars missions with Starships around 2026, with company materials describing plans to send the first Starships to Mars to gather critical data on entry, descent and landing and to begin scouting for resources. The official Mars page notes that these Mars Starships will be the pathfinders for later cargo and crew flights. Independent analysts have suggested that 2026 could be a turning point for Starship, with commentary on its “insane” goals arguing that this is the year it finally sheds the experimental label and begins to look like an operational system, a view reflected in breakdowns of Starship milestones.

Inside the Mars fuel factory: Sabatier plants, membranes and return tickets
Once Starship actually lands on Mars, the fuel story becomes existential. Space settlement advocates have long argued that early missions to Mars, including Robert Zubrin’s Mars Direct architecture, will require propellant production on the surface to make a return trip viable, and they point out that Starship uses methane for fuel precisely because it can be made from Martian CO2 and ice. Detailed studies of Propellant production on Mars describe how Early missions under Mars Direct would deploy reactors and compressors before crews arrive, so that tanks of methane and oxygen are waiting when astronauts step off the lander. Aerospace engineers have warned that sending humans without stored propellant would be reckless, arguing that the basic premise is to have fuel made in situ and fed back into the loop, a point underscored in analyses that note, “But the alternative, sending humans without propellant ready, is unacceptable,” as captured in But the discussion of SpaceX’s Mars plan.

#14 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Starship repurposed to make or build what we need » 2026-02-07 14:30:31

Trying to right size the hut construction as a function of learned information in double torus 250,000m^3 interior volume structure, we shall approximate the structure as a pair of inflatable tori with an inner radius of 50m and an outer radius of 70.50385m, which provides an interior volume of 125,000.430m^3 and surface area of 24,385.748m^2 per torus.

The 4 crew sleeping quarters is a volume of 125 m cubic meters which with 2.5 m floor to ceiling means 5m by 10 m long but what is missing?
Simple math: 1000 crew / 4 only gives a volume that is incomplete at 250x 125 m^3 = 31,250 cubic meters of volume floor area was also off by a factor of 2 this means a ceiling of 2.5 m x room for 1 of 5m x 2m = 12.5 m^2 or 31.25 M^3 sized for 1 crew member

Hygiene & laundry    1.0–1.5 m²/person @ 2.5 m height    1,000–1,500    2,500–3,750  this is a toilet stall for a man 1.0m x 1.5 m² per crew person x 2.5 m height we might want 2 minimum

Life support machinery    CO₂, O₂, water, waste, tanks, thermal plant    –    5,000–10,000

Waste management    Sorting, storage, processing    –    1,000–2,000 plumbing exits through the floor to a storage tank in the ground

medical care, surgery, recovery Area: 23-28 sq meters per crew patient bed for monitoring, leave space for all side of bed for a minimum to support 50 crew
use 2 crew room for sizing for the operation area

Medical (incl. support)    50 monitored beds @ 23–28 m² + OR, imaging, support    2,000–2,500    5,000–6,250 no area is truly needed but plan for 1 crew needing ICU or direct care

Workspaces & labs    Offices, control, labs, shops (~1.0–1.5 m²/person)    1,000–1,500    2,500–3,750 no area is truly needed but plan for 1 crew needing ICU or direct care


greenhouse which is volume for 1,000 need per single person is 2m x 4m x5m = 40 cubic meter x 1,000 = 40,000 cubic m volume is 4 times to small.  this is 160 m^3 per person for food

galley/kitchen, refrigeration/ freezing, dry food storage
Galley + mess    Seats for 1/3 crew at once (~0.8–1.0 m²/seat) + kitchen    600–800    1,500–2,000

Submarine galleys are highly compact, specialized spaces, often squeezed into less than 100-200 square feet to serve over 100 crew members, requiring multi-functional, durable equipment.

Key equipment includes electric ranges with fiddles, specialized small ovens, deep fryers, and compact, heavy-duty refrigeration. Space is optimized for high-volume cooking in limited, shock-proof areas. Galley Equipment

Requirements Cooking Equipment: Heavy-duty, electric ranges are standard, often featuring "fiddles" (rails) to prevent pots from sliding, measuring roughly 18-1/2" wide x 16-7/8" deep.

Ovens & Kettles: Compact rectangular kettles (approx. 9" x 16") and small-footprint ovens are used to maximize space.

Power Supply: Modern naval galleys require significant power, often around \(14.5\text{\ kW}\) for smaller units, or more for larger crews.Construction: Equipment must be waterproof, shockproof, salt-fog resistant, easy to clean, and durable. 

Galley Design Factors Square Footage: Extremely restricted, often designed for maximum efficiency rather than comfort. Submarine galleys are often in the center of the boat, adjacent to storage for frozen, refrigerated, and dry good's.

Storage: Perishables and dry stores are kept in nearby specialized storerooms, often directly below the galleys.

Efficiency: Due to the small size, equipment must be multifunctional, and layout is critical for workflow, such as integrating cooking surfaces, ovens, and preparation areas into a single, cohesive unit

Submarine mess halls, often called the "crew's mess" or simply the "mess decks," are highly compact, multifunctional social hubs designed to maximize limited space for 150+ sailors. They are characterized by tight, efficient seating, 24/7 service, and, in older vessels, they often functioned as additional sleeping areas.

Mess Hall Area and Layout
Location & Size: Situated in one of the few open-concept areas of the submarine, the mess hall is usually located near the galley (kitchen), which is often described as being roughly the size of a walk-in closet.

Multifunctional Space: In older or smaller submarines, the mess area also served as a berthing (sleeping) compartment.

Atmosphere: It serves as the primary social hub for the crew, used for eating, watching movies, playing games like cards or chess, and holding meetings.

Amenities: The area typically features fixed tables, benches, and a TV for entertainment.

Ventilation: Due to the heat from the galley, these areas often feature exposed, high-volume air ducting.

Seating and Dining Arrangements

Fixed Furniture: Seating consists of fixed benches and tables, often described as a, "small, greasy spoon" diner.

Capacity: The seating capacity is intentionally small, often accommodating only 15 to 24 sailors at a time.

Shifts: Because the crew is large and the space is small, sailors eat in rotating shifts (continuous service).

Buffet Style: Meals are generally served buffet-style, with sailors using metal cafeteria-style trays rather than plates.

Folding Seats: In some configurations, tables are designed to maximize space, with benches that may allow for seating near storage areas or folded bunks.

Differences by Submarine Class
WWII/Older Submarines: Used foldable, portable benches and sometimes required sailors to sit on footlockers.

Modern Nuclear Submarines (e.g., Ohio/Virginia Class): Feature more refined, but still cramped, permanent, fixed-booth seating with specialized,, durable, and sometimes fire-retardant materials.

Officers' Wardroom: Unlike the crew's mess, officers often have a separate, more private, and formal wardroom for dining and confidential meetings.

Key Aspects of Submarine Dining
"Midrats": The galley operates 24/7, providing four meals a day, including "midrats" (midnight rations) for sailors changing shifts.

High-Quality Food: Because of the confined, high-stress environment, submarines are known for having better food than surface ships to maintain morale.

Tight Quarters: The entire space is designed to be efficient, with every square inch utilized for storage, food prep, and serving

Exercise & recreation    ~1.5–2.0 m²/person shared    1,500–2,000    3,750–5,000

If crews are 20 max then the sizing and the requirements change for materials to make use of, not just space utilization.

#15 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Ring Habitat on Mars Doughnut Torus » 2026-02-07 14:25:34

Current suggestion is to treat the exoskeleton as 2 separate circular or semi spherical domes that are duel tubing welded 30mm OD, 4mm wall, 304L stainless, together at 1 meter around the structure taking on the outline shape of the torus. It looks similar to the geodesic style frame.

#16 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » 2026-02-07 14:20:45

If the crossing of the border has a Statute of Limitation while they are still here illegally what is the process after that expiration to funnel them into being American for steps?

Two years

Statute of Limitations on Crimes Such as Illegal Entrance into the US
The statute of limitations for illegal entrance into the United States is generally two years from the date of the commission of the crime. This means that the government has two years from the date of the illegal entry to bring criminal charges against an individual. However, this is a general rule, and specific circumstances may affect the statute of limitations. For example, if the defendant has fled the jurisdiction, the statute of limitations may be tolled until the defendant's return. Additionally, if an individual has entered the country illegally and then commits another crime, the statute of limitations for the illegal entry may be extended to cover the time period of the additional crime. It is always best to consult with an attorney to determine the specific statute of limitations for a particular case.
Cornell University

Is it not charging for the same crime if its expired?

The principle of double jeopardy protects individuals from being tried twice for the same offense. According to the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, no person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb. This means that once a person has been acquitted or convicted, they cannot be retried for the same crime. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as mistrials, where jeopardy attaches again, and separate sovereigns can independently prosecute the same conduct without violating the double jeopardy principle. Thus, while the general rule is that double jeopardy applies, there are specific circumstances under which it may not be enforced.
legalclarity.org

Seems that those being deported should only be those that have committed new crimes once they are here.


So what is up with deportation of children age 10 and younger....that have not committed any crime other than being born on US soil? to parent or parents that are of illegal but not criminal after the 2 year period.

#17 Re: Meta New Mars » kbd512 Postings » 2026-02-07 14:05:01

I did a bit of shaped dome that covers the inflatable as 2 separate spherical domes experimenting and with the tubing at 30mm OD, 4mm wall, 304L stainless, doubled plus welded together and crossed at 1m spaces can handle the regolith load. The only thing I can see is if the bags can move in the center of the torus structure midline. It looks similar to the geodesic style frame.

#18 Re: Human missions » Block 3 starship first mission » 2026-02-07 13:26:46

Core electrolysis performance numbers
Modern PEM/alkaline electrolysers (system level, not just stack):

Electrical energy per kg H₂: 
50–55 kWh/kg H₂ is a good practical design number (HHV‑based, including balance of plant).

Water consumption: 
~9 kg of H₂O per 1 kg H₂ (stoichiometric, plus a bit of overhead).

So for quick back‑of‑the‑envelope:

1 kg H₂ → ~50 kWh and ~9 kg water

How much H₂ do you need for a Starship refuel?
Take a representative “full” Mars refuel case:

Methane load: ~240–330 t CH₄

Hydrogen is 25% of CH₄ by mass, so:

For 240 t CH₄ → ~60 t H₂

For 330 t CH₄ → ~82.5 t H₂

Use 60–80 t H₂ as a working range.

Electrical energy for electrolysis:

At 50 kWh/kg H₂:

60,000 kg H₂ → 3,000,000 kWh (3 GWh)

80,000 kg H₂ → 4,000,000 kWh (4 GWh)

Average power over a 2‑year production window
Assume you give yourself 2 years (~17,500 hours) to refuel one Starship:

3–4 GWh over 17,500 h → ~170–230 kW average 
That’s just for electrolysis, not counting:

CO₂ capture/compression/liquefaction

Sabatier reactor operation

O₂ and CH₄ liquefaction

Base/hab loads

If your earlier CO₂ + liquefaction + Sabatier + cryo budget is already, say, 200–300 kW, then:

Total ISRU plant power ends up in the 400–600 kW class per Starship if you want a 2‑year turnaround.

Solar array sizing impact
On Mars, a common rough design number is:

Average usable power per m² of solar (fixed, with losses): ~100–150 W/m² peak → 30–50 W/m² average over the day/year after dust, angle, etc.

If you need ~200 kW just for electrolysis:

At 40 W/m² average →
200,000  W / 40  W/m² = 5,000  m²

So electrolysis alone wants on the order of 5,000 m² of panels.

If total ISRU (all processes) is ~500 kW average:

500,000  W / 40  W/m² ≈ 12,500  m²

Which is nicely in the same ballpark as the “tens of thousands of m²” figures you see in Mars ISRU studies.

Electrolyser equipment mass
Ground/industrial PEM systems today:

Specific mass: often 3–10 kg/kW at the system level (stack + BoP) for containerized units.

For a Mars‑hardened, more conservative design, it’s reasonable to budget:

10–20 kg/kW at the system level (radiators, redundancy, structure, etc.)

So for ~200 kW of electrolysis capacity:

At 10 kg/kW → ~2,000 kg (2 t)

At 20 kg/kW → ~4,000 kg (4 t)

That’s a few tons of hardware per Starship‑scale ISRU plant just for electrolysis.

[table]
[tr][th]Item[/th][th]Value[/th][th]Notes[/th][/tr]

[tr]
[td]Electrolysis energy[/td]
[td]50–55 kWh/kg H2[/td]
[td]System-level PEM/alkaline, incl. BoP[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Water per kg H2[/td]
[td]~9 kg H2O/kg H2[/td]
[td]Stoichiometric + small overhead[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]H2 needed for Starship[/td]
[td]60–80 t H2[/td]
[td]For 240–330 t CH4[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Electrolysis energy total[/td]
[td]3–4 GWh[/td]
[td]Per full Starship refuel[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Avg power over 2 years[/td]
[td]170–230 kW[/td]
[td]Electrolysis only[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Solar area for electrolysis[/td]
[td]~5,000 m2[/td]
[td]Assuming ~40 W/m2 average[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Electrolyser specific mass[/td]
[td]10–20 kg/kW[/td]
[td]Mars-hardened estimate[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Electrolyser mass (200 kW)[/td]
[td]2–4 t[/td]
[td]Per Starship-scale ISRU plant[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

#19 Re: Human missions » Block 3 starship first mission » 2026-02-07 13:22:51

The what is missing

You’re poking exactly where the hidden mass is in “30,000 m² of solar”—the thermodynamics. Let’s put rough-but-useful numbers on it.

High-level ballpark numbers per ton of CO₂ (Mars ISRU context)
Compression (Mars ambient → ~1 bar gas): 
Roughly 40–80 kWh/ton CO₂ with realistic multi-stage compression and losses.

Cooling to near liquefaction temperature (~−56 °C to −78 °C): 
Roughly 10–20 kWh/ton CO₂ (sensible + some subcooling margin).

Liquefaction (including refrigeration work at low temperature): 
Roughly 80–150 kWh/ton CO₂ total (cooling + phase change + inefficiencies).

Total “Mars CO₂ capture + compression + liquefaction” (practical system): 
Roughly 120–250 kWh/ton CO₂ depending on tech choice (mechanical compression vs adsorption, etc.).

These are engineering design numbers, not thermodynamic minima—they fold in realistic compressor/refrigeration efficiencies.

1. CO₂ compression from Mars atmosphere
Assumptions
Mars ambient pressure: ~600 Pa (~0.006 bar)

Target pressure for storage/reaction: ~1–10 bar (gas phase)

Process: Multi‑stage compression with intercooling.

Energy estimate
Ideal isothermal compression from 0.006 bar to 1 bar is only a few kWh/ton CO₂, but real systems are far from ideal.

Studies of Mars atmosphere acquisition and compression for ISRU typically land in the tens of kWh/ton CO₂ once you include:

Multi‑stage compressors

Motor and mechanical losses

Pressure drops and non‑ideal gas behavior

Useful design range: 
40–80 kWh/ton CO₂ for compression to a few bar.

2. Cooling CO₂ to near liquefaction temperature
Context
After compression, CO₂ must be cooled from roughly ambient Mars temperature (say −50 °C) down to near its liquefaction region (around −56 °C at 5.2 bar, or colder at lower pressures).

Energy estimate
Sensible cooling load is modest (Mars is already cold), but:

You still need active refrigeration to control temperature and reject heat.

Real systems have COP < 1 at low temperatures.

Useful design range: 
10–20 kWh/ton CO₂ for cooling from intake conditions to near liquefaction temperature.

3. Liquefaction of CO₂
This is where the energy really spikes.

Components
Further cooling below the triple point (if operating at lower pressure).

Latent heat of vaporization/sublimation.

Refrigeration inefficiencies at low temperature.

Thermodynamic minima are on the order of tens of kWh/ton, but with realistic COPs and system losses, practical liquefaction plants (even on Earth) often land in the 80–150 kWh/ton CO₂ range. Mars ISRU concepts that liquefy CO₂ for storage or feedstock are generally in that same ballpark once you include all parasitics.

Useful design range: 
80–150 kWh/ton CO₂ for full liquefaction (including refrigeration work).

4. Mars CO₂ capture systems (compression vs adsorption)
NASA’s Mars Atmospheric Capture and Gas Separation work looks heavily at adsorption/temperature‑swing and freezing/liquefaction as alternatives to brute‑force mechanical compression.

Mechanical compression route:

Intake → dust removal → multi‑stage compression → cooling → liquefaction.

Energy dominated by compression + refrigeration → ~120–250 kWh/ton CO₂ total.

Temperature‑swing adsorption route:

Uses diurnal temperature swings to help drive desorption.

Can offload some of the “compression work” into thermal cycling, reducing electrical power draw but increasing system mass/complexity.

For Starship‑class ISRU, most architecture studies still budget hundreds of kWh per ton of CO₂ processed when you include capture, compression, and liquefaction.

5. How this scales to a Starship refuel
Take your earlier CO₂ requirement:

CO₂ needed: ~600–900+ tons per Starship

Using a mid‑range ~180 kWh/ton CO₂ (capture + compression + liquefaction):

Total energy: 
600  t × 180  kWh/t = 108,000  kWh

to

900  t × 180  kWh/t = 162,000  kWh

Spread over 2 years (~17,500 h):

Average power just for CO₂ handling: 
~6–9 kW continuous per Starship only for CO₂ capture/compression/liquefaction, not counting:

Water mining and electrolysis

Sabatier reactor operation

Liquefaction of O₂ and CH₄

General base loads

When you add water processing, Sabatier, O₂/CH₄ liquefaction, and overheads, you quickly climb into the hundreds of kW regime—hence the tens of thousands of m² of solar in many studies.

#20 Re: Human missions » Block 3 starship first mission » 2026-02-07 13:17:16

[table]
[tr][th]Category[/th][th]Water Required[/th][th]CO2 Required[/th][th]Notes[/th][/tr]

[tr]
[td]Baseline ISRU Requirement[/td]
[td]540–600 metric tons[/td]
[td]600–700 metric tons[/td]
[td]Standard load for producing ~240–330 t CH4 and ~960–1,000 t O2.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Extended Range (Low–High)[/td]
[td]500–1,000+ metric tons[/td]
[td]540–900+ metric tons[/td]
[td]Depends on Sabatier efficiency and methane target mass.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Alternative Architecture (NASA DRA6)[/td]
[td]~18 tons imported from Earth[/td]
[td]0 tons (if methane imported)[/td]
[td>Importing methane eliminates CO2 processing entirely.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Sabatier Stoichiometric Ratio[/td]
[td]Water provides hydrogen for CH4[/td]
[td]2.8 tons CO2 per 1 ton CH4[/td]
[td]Producing 330 t CH4 requires over 900 t CO2.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Propellant Output Supported[/td]
[td]Supports ~1,200–1,500 t propellant[/td]
[td]Same[/td]
[td]Full Mars–Earth return load.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Physical Volume Equivalent[/td]
[td]~600 t = 9×9×9 m ice cube[/td]
[td]N/A[/td]
[td]Useful for visualizing mining scale.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Production Time[/td]
[td]~2 years for full load[/td]
[td]~2 years[/td]
[td]Typical ISPP plant assumptions.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Energy Requirement[/td]
[td]Electrolysis + Sabatier[/td]
[td]CO2 capture + Sabatier[/td]
[td]Requires ~30,000 m² solar array.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]If Only O2 Produced on Mars[/td]
[td]0 tons[/td]
[td]0 tons[/td]
[td]Methane imported from Earth; drastically reduces ISRU load.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Life Support Water (Non‑Propellant)[/td]
[td]~0.6 kg/h/person[/td]
[td]N/A[/td]
[td]Separate from propellant production.[/td]
[/tr]

[tr]
[td]Atmospheric Source[/td]
[td]Subsurface ice mining[/td]
[td]Martian atmosphere (95% CO2)[/td]
[td]Atmosphere is thin, requiring high-volume intake.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Table: Mass Requirements to Fully Refuel a Starship on Mars (ISRU)

Category
Water Required
CO₂ Required
Notes

Baseline ISRU Requirement
540–600 metric tons
600–700 metric tons
Standard estimates for producing ~240–330 t CH₄ + ~960–1,000 t O₂.

Extended Range (Low–High)
500–1,000+ metric tons
540–900+ metric tons
Depends on efficiency, Sabatier conversion rate, and methane target mass.

Alternative Architecture (NASA DRA6)
~18 tons imported from Earth
0 tons (if methane imported)
Methane brought from Earth eliminates CO₂ processing.

Sabatier Stoichiometric Ratio
Water provides hydrogen; ~4 H₂ per CO₂ molecule
2.8 tons CO₂ per 1 ton CH₄
Producing 330 t CH₄ requires >900 t CO₂.

Propellant Output Supported
Enables production of ~1,200–1,500 t of propellant
Same
Full Mars–Earth return load.

Physical Volume Equivalent
~600 t = 9 m × 9 m × 9 m ice cube
N/A
Useful for visualizing mining scale.

Production Time
~2 years for full propellant load
~2 years
Based on typical ISPP plant assumptions.

Energy Requirement
Large-scale electrolysis + Sabatier
Large-scale CO₂ capture + Sabatier
Requires ~30,000 m² solar array (typical estimate).

If Only O₂ Produced on Mars
0 tons (no methane production)
0 tons
Methane imported from Earth; drastically reduces ISRU load.

Life Support Water (Non‑Propellant)
~0.6 kg/h/person without recycling
N/A
Separate from propellant production.

Atmospheric Source
Subsurface ice mining
Martian atmosphere (95% CO₂)
CO₂ is abundant but extremely thin, requiring high-volume intake.


Missing is the compression of the gasses outputted from Sabatier reaction as well as for the input co2 from Mars insitu use. Then to energy of cooling that must be done to recreate the liquid oxygen (LOX) + liquid methane (LCH4)

Of course we will get excesses that mayor not be saved depending on other factors.

Key Takeaways
1. Water and CO₂ requirements are of similar magnitude
Both fall in the 500–900 ton class for a fully fueled Starship return mission.

2. Water is the more “fixed” requirement
Because hydrogen must come from water, and methane production is hydrogen‑limited.

3. CO₂ requirements vary more widely
Because they scale directly with methane production targets and Sabatier efficiency.

4. Alternative architectures drastically change the numbers
Importing methane → CO₂ requirement drops to zero

Importing water (NASA DRA6) → only ~18 tons needed, but methane production still requires CO₂

5. The total propellant load (1,200–1,500 t) drives all upstream resource requirements
This is why the water and CO₂ numbers are so large.

#22 Re: Meta New Mars » kbd512 Postings » 2026-02-07 12:48:02

Not sure how that structure is applied to the total shape of the double torus as that is part of the issues.

Was thinking about the shape of the exoskeleton shape as it needs to reflect the half shape of the double torus as a vertical member that is slowly rotated to form the complete stainless tubing hoops and cross members, taking on the circular and parabolic shape that would make for a stronger structure to hold the regolith mass above it.

It will take more stainless steel but it makes it closer to what we wanted. straps tie downs are required to this exoskeleton to keep the inflatable inside it.

#23 Re: Human missions » Block 3 starship first mission » 2026-02-07 12:39:56

Of course this brings up mission details and purpose as a stepping stone to get from 1, to 2, to 3 and so on until we have sustainability.

so lets start with the fully refueled starship crewed Block 3 requirements

how much water is required to fill a starship crewed block 3 on mars surface.

To fully fuel a Starship on the Mars surface for a return trip, approximately 600 metric tons of water are required to produce the necessary liquid oxygen and methane propellant via In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). This water is mined from Martian ice and processed using renewable energy. Propellant Production Needs: Generating enough propellant for a return journey requires on the order of 600 metric tons of water.

Alternative Architectures: Some mission plans, such as NASA's DRA6, suggest bringing ~18 metric tons of water from Earth to act as a catalyst with Martian CO\({}_{2}\), while others focus on full ISRU to produce the 600-ton requirement.

Water Volume: 600 tons of water is equivalent to an ice cube approximately 9 meters on each side.

Survival Needs: Beyond propellant, water is necessary for life support (drinking, hygiene), with estimations suggesting 0.6 kg/h/person without full recycling. Mining water locally is considered the most efficient method for long-term Mars missions, rather than transporting it from Earth

how much Co2 is required to fill a starship block 3 on mars surface.

Based on current plans for SpaceX's In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on Mars, refueling a Starship (Block 2/3) to return to Earth requires approximately 960 to 1,000 metric tons of liquid oxygen (LOX) and 240 to 330 metric tons of liquid methane (LCH4). To produce this propellant, the necessary amount of CO₂ extracted from the

Martian atmosphere is: Total CO₂ Required: Approximately 600 to 700 metric tons to produce the necessary methane via the Sabatier process (\(CO_{2}+4H_{2}\rightarrow CH_{4}+2H_{2}O\)) and for oxygen production, as reported in various propellant plant estimations.

Alternative Calculation: The Sabatier process requires roughly 2.8 tons of CO₂ for every 1 ton of methane produced. Producing ~330 tons of methane (full capacity) requires over 900 tons of CO₂. 

Key Considerations for Mars Production: Process: The CO₂ is not just "put into the tank"; it is combined with hydrogen (from split water ice) in a Sabatier reactor to create liquid methane and liquid oxygen.

Surface Operations: 1,500 tonnes of total propellant are needed for a return trip.

Power Requirement: Producing this amount of fuel requires massive energy input, requiring roughly 30,000 \(m^{2}\) of solar panels.

Atmosphere: While the Martian atmosphere is 95% CO₂, it is very thin (0.6% of Earth's pressure), requiring huge amounts of gas to be processed


Now without the block identification:

how much water is required to fill a starship block 3 on mars surface.

To fully refuel a Starship on the surface of Mars for a return trip, approximately 500 to 1,000+ metric tons of water (H₂O) must be mined and processed to produce the required methane (\(CH_{4}\)) and oxygen (\(O_{2}\)) propellants. While specific "Block 3" water requirements are part of evolving architecture, the general consensus for fully fueling a Starship using In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) involves mining roughly 540 to 600 tons of water ice per ship to create the needed fuel. Key Water-to-Propellant Details Production Mechanism: Water is electrolyzed into hydrogen, which is then reacted with Martian carbon dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)) via the Sabatier process to produce methane and oxygen.

Water Requirements: To make 240 tons of methane and 960 tons of oxygen (standard full load), about 540 to 600 metric tons of water must be mined and split.

Alternative Estimates: Some early estimates suggested as much as 1,000+ tons of water, though refined calculations often cite lower amounts, such as 500 tons depending on the efficiency of the mining and conversion process.

Mass vs. Volume: This water quantity is equivalent to a large ice cube roughly 9 meters on a side. Context on Starship "Block 3" and Mars Propellant Load: A full Starship on Mars requires a total propellant load of roughly 1,200 to 1,500 metric tons to return to Earth.

ISRU Feasibility: Mining this amount of water is highly dependent on locating accessible, high-purity water ice on the Martian surface. If the water content in the soil is 50% (underground glacier), 500 tons could be mined in roughly 10 days; at 10% content, it could take two months.

Emergencies: If ISRU is not available, hauling water from Earth is likely prohibited by the immense mass requirements, though a reduced ascent (using only 40 tons of propellant) might only require roughly 18 tons of imported water

how much Co2 is required to fill a starship on mars surface.

Based on current estimates for the SpaceX Starship, roughly 600 to 700 metric tons of CO₂ are required to produce enough methane (CH₄) to refuel a Starship for a return trip to Earth.

This process relies on the Sabatier reaction, which combines carbon dioxide (CO₂) harvested from the Martian atmosphere with hydrogen (H₂) produced from mined water ice (H₂O) to create methane and oxygen (O₂).

Key Data on Mars Refueling
Total Propellant Required: A return trip requires approximately 732 to 1,200 tons of total propellant (liquid oxygen and liquid methane) to lift off from Mars and return to Earth.

CO₂ Requirement: Producing the ~240–330 tons of methane needed for this trip requires consuming around 540 to 900+ tons of CO₂.
Source: The CO₂ is directly harvested from the 95% CO₂ Martian atmosphere.

Production Time: It is estimated that a fully loaded Starship's worth of oxygen and methane can be produced by an in-situ propellant production (ISPP) plant on the surface in about two years.
Context

Byproducts: The reaction also produces roughly 11.8 metric tons of nitrogen and argon as a byproduct, which can be used to pressurize habitats.

Energy Intensity: Creating this fuel requires massive amounts of power, requiring a large-scale solar array or a small nuclear reactor.

Alternative Refueling: If only the oxygen is produced on Mars, and methane is brought from Earth, the CO₂ requirement for manufacturing drops to zero, but the cost of transporting methane increases

So looking at the masses for either the total fuel requirement does bridge a large difference.

#24 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Starship repurposed to make or build what we need » 2026-02-06 18:12:23

The plates with in can also be tubing bend to the shape and welded to the shaped and have a more open internals.

Planning must also include many other functions to support if we do the care taker approach.

Water plant, Waste recovery, air creation and food

It is possible to turn each starship into more of these from the ships which are not used up yet.

Astronaut daily CO2 production is about 1kg per person and they consume 1 gallon of water per person.

Thermally-Regenerated 4-Bed Solid Amine CO2 Removal System with Air and Water Save Features (CAMRAS): 400W 120VAC constant power draw for 1 of 4 sequentially heated amine beds.
415W average / 526W peak 28VDC power draw for fans, pumps, and control electronics.
4.71kg of maximum demonstrated CO2 removal capacity per day aboard ISS over a 1,000 day test.
The system is therefore "sized" for 4 astronauts, or 1/250th of our colony's head count.

For a Thermally-Regenerated 4‑Bed Solid Amine CO₂ Removal System with air and water save features (CAMRAS-class) designed for something like ISS/Orion-class flows:

Ballpark dry mass (single unit):  ~80–150 kg
Lower end: aggressively optimized, Orion/short-duration style packaging.
Upper end: ISS-like robustness, more structure, more interfaces.

Installed volume / footprint:  Think in terms of a rectangular box roughly:
Planform footprint: about 0.4–0.7 m²

e.g. something like 0.6 m × 0.8–1.0 m in floor area.

Height: 0.6–1.0 m depending on packaging and access.

So envelope volume: roughly 0.25–0.6 m³ per unit.

Specific capacity (for scaling): 
For crew-sized systems, a CAMRAS-class solid amine 4‑bed system is typically sized around: 4–6 crew per unit at ~0.8–1.0 kg CO₂/day/person

So ~3–6 kg CO₂/day per unit is a reasonable design point.

How to use this for your Mars habitat sizing
If you’re doing system-level mass/volume budgets rather than hardware-level replication, a good parametric approximation is:

Mass per person (CO₂ removal, solid amine, thermally regenerated):

m_{\text{CO₂,person}} \approx 20\text{–}35 \text{ kg/person (installed, including structure & interfaces)}
for continuous, long-duration operation with redundancy.

Footprint per person: ? CO₂,person ≈ 0.05 – 0.10  m²/person assuming you cluster beds into a few larger units rather than one tiny unit per person.

So, for example, for 1,000 crew with N+1 redundancy and some margin, you might budget:
Mass: 1,000 × 25 – 35 kg ≈ 25 – 35  metric tons for the entire CO₂ removal subsystem, including structure, manifolds, and some spares.

Footprint: 1,000 × 0.07 m² ≈ 70 m²
which is then arranged in racks, so actual deck area impact is less if you stack vertically.

Reality check
Because the exact CAMRAS configuration you named is a specific NASA hardware line, the true numbers will depend on:
Mission profile: flow rate, crew count, redundancy, regeneration power limits.
Packaging constraints: rack vs. wall-mounted vs. modular skid.
Integration: ducting, valves, water-save heat exchangers, and control electronics.

926W * 250 = 231,500W of constant power to support CO2 scrubbing for 1,000 colonists, with a 17.75% CO2 removal performance margin for degraded system operation.

Cumulative air mass vented to space over 1,000 days of operation: 16.1lbm, so 4,025lbm over 1,000 days for 1,000 colonists, which equates to 4.025lbm of required atmospheric replenishment per day 78% N2, 21% O2, and 1% Ar.  I've no idea how to source the N2 yet, but the O2 can be provided by CO2 and the Martian atmosphere also contains 2.7% Nitrogen and 1.6% Argon by mass.

Cumulative water mass vented to space over 1,000 days of operation: 67.9lbm, so 16.9775lbm / 2.04 gallons per day for 1,000 people.  The water save feature of CAMRAS is crucial to life support, otherwise 80.4lbm / 9.64 gallons per day would be lost for 1,000 colonists.

Ionomwer Water Processor (IWP) Assembly peak power draw: 195W
Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) active / standby power draw: 424W / 108W
Water Recovery System (WRS; UPA + IWP) time averaged power draw: 743Wh/hr
743W * 250 = 185,750W

ISS Waste Water Recovery Per Day: 34.34 gallons / 130L per day (98% recovery rate)

This implies that total water processing for 1,000 colonists will be 2,146.25 gallons per day.

Minimal Life Support Power Draw: 417,250W

That figure does not include fan-based air circulation / ventilation, waste heat removal, or more advanced life support functions such as hot showers and cooking / cleaning, merely the minimum CO2 scrubbing and waste water recovery to keep 1,000 people alive.

It would be reasonable to assume that 417,250W of power draw is ultimately dissipated as waste heat, which needs to be rejected to space via radiators.  1,000 colonists, all working about as hard as they could sustain for 1 hour, would generate just under 98,000W of waste heat.

The fan power to deliver 15 air changes per hour to a 144,000ft^3 / 4,078m^3 auditorium filled with 1,000 people is 36,000CFM, so 36,000CFM * 0.8W/CFM = 28,800W.  This structure is approximately 31X larger, so we can probably get away with as few as 4 complete air changes per hour because it's so big.  The smaller the interior volume of a structure relative to the number of people inside, the more air changes per hour are required to keep the air fresh.  However, that still bumps our total wattage up to 59,520W.  If we really want to be completely pedantic about this, then 892,800W is required to provide 15 air changes per hour for a 125,000m^3 internal volume structure.  It'll be like living inside a wind tunnel, though, so perhaps that's a bit over-the-top.

3MW worth of power for 1,000 colonists is likely more than sufficient for basic life support functions, to include hot showers and interior lights, especially if we use some of that waste heat to warm up our frosty cold fresh water supply.

would like to find foot print measurements for Ionomwer Water Processor (IWP)
Urine Processor Assembly (UPA)
Water Recovery System (WRS; UPA + IWP)
I dug through the available sources, but none of the search results provide physical footprint measurements (height × width × depth or mass/volume envelope) for:

Ionomer Water Processor (IWP)

Urine Processor Assembly (UPA)

Water Recovery System (WRS = UPA + WPA/IWP)

The documents found describe function, technology, upgrades, and performance, but not physical dimensions.
Here is what the searches actually contained:

What the sources do cover
IWP: Technology description, membrane design, SBIR announcements, and system goals (e.g., 98% recovery)

UPA: Technical papers on upgrades, distillation assembly, and system behavior, but no physical envelope

WRS: High‑level ISS water management descriptions, but no hardware dimensions

Why the data is missing
NASA typically publishes mass, power, and performance for ECLSS hardware, but footprint dimensions are usually buried in:

internal configuration drawings

ISS rack integration documents

payload accommodation specs

NASA ECLSS ICDs (Interface Control Documents)

These are rarely available in public-facing technical papers.

What I can give you right now (based on known ISS architecture)
Even though the search didn’t return explicit numbers, we can anchor the expected footprint because:

1. UPA and WPA/IWP are housed in standard ISS racks
Both systems are installed in US Lab racks (ISPRs).
A standard ISPR (International Standard Payload Rack) has known dimensions:

Parameter    ISPR Value
Height    2.0 m
Width    1.05 m
Depth    0.86 m
Usable internal volume    ~1.57 m³
Max mass    ~700 kg
So the maximum possible footprint for UPA, WPA, or IWP is constrained by the ISPR envelope.

2. UPA occupies one full rack (LAB1P4)
This is explicitly stated in NASA documentation:

“The Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) was installed in LAB1P4 during ULF‑2 as part of the Water Recovery System (WRS).”

Thus, UPA footprint ≈ 1 ISPR rack.

3. WPA (Water Processor Assembly) also occupies one rack
The WPA is the other half of the WRS.
The IWP is intended as a future replacement for WPA, so its footprint is expected to be ≤ 1 ISPR rack.

4. WRS (UPA + WPA/IWP) = 2 racks total
This is consistent with all ISS ECLSS documentation.

Practical engineering summary
Here are the best available footprint estimates based on rack constraints:

Ionomer Water Processor (IWP)
Footprint: ≤ 1 ISPR

Approx. max dimensions:
2.0 m (H) × 1.05 m (W) × 0.86 m (D)

Likely smaller, but no public source gives exact numbers.

Urine Processor Assembly (UPA)
Footprint: 1 ISPR (LAB1P4)

Dimensions:
2.0 m × 1.05 m × 0.86 m (rack envelope)
Internal hardware occupies most of the rack volume.

Water Recovery System (WRS = UPA + WPA/IWP)
Footprint: 2 ISPR racks

Dimensions:
2 × (2.0 m × 1.05 m × 0.86 m)
Total width: ~2.1 m when racks are side‑by‑side.

If you want the exact hardware dimensions
I can help you get them, but I need to know which path you prefer:

Option A — I search for NASA rack integration drawings
These sometimes include exact hardware envelopes.

Option B — You want engineering‑grade estimates
I can derive realistic dimensions based on:
component masses
pump and distillation assembly sizes
membrane module geometry
thermal control hardware
avionics packaging

Option C — You want footprints for Mars ISRU planning

I can scale these systems for:
1–6 crew
1000‑crew colony
surface vs. pressurized habitat integration
power and mass budgets
Which direction would you like to go?

scale for 10 crew

See my thinking
For 10 crew, we can treat the ISS WRS (UPA + WPA/IWP) as our baseline module and scale from there.

Quick sizing summary for 10‑crew WRS
Item    ISS baseline (6–7 crew)    Scaled for 10 crew    Notes
Crew supported    6–7    10    Linear scaling with margin
UPA racks    1 ISPR    1–2 ISPR    Depends on turndown/redundancy
WPA/IWP racks    1 ISPR    1–2 ISPR    Higher throughput or N+1
Total WRS racks    2 ISPR    3–4 ISPR    Likely 3 if aggressively optimized
Rack footprint (each)    2.0 m H × 1.05 m W × 0.86 m D    same    ISPR standard
So for 10 crew, you’re realistically looking at:

Minimum aggressive design:
3 racks total (e.g., 1.5× ISS capacity with higher‑throughput internals)
Footprint ≈ 2.0 m H × 3.15 m W × 0.86 m D
Conservative / high‑reliability design:
4 racks total (2× UPA, 2× WPA/IWP or 1.5× + redundancy)
Footprint ≈ 2.0 m H × 4.2 m W × 0.86 m D

How I’m scaling from ISS
1. ISS design point
The UPA is explicitly described as being designed for 6–7 crewmembers.
The WRS (UPA + WPA) on ISS supports that crew size with some margin and operates near continuous duty.

So: Capacity per ISS WRS ≈ 6.5  crew (midpoint)

2. Linear flow scaling to 10 crew

Assuming roughly linear scaling of water production/processing with crew count:

Scale factor = 10 6.5 ≈ 1.54
That means you need about 1.5× the ISS WRS throughput to support 10 crew with similar margins.

3. What that means in hardware

You have three main strategies:

A. Higher‑throughput internals, same rack count (2 racks)
Push pumps, contactors, distillation, and membranes harder.
This increases power, heat rejection, and wear, and leaves less margin.
For a long‑duration or Mars‑class system, this is usually too aggressive.

B. 1.5× capacity in 3 racks (likely sweet spot)

Example layout:
1.5× UPA capacity in 2 racks (primary + partial redundant/parallel unit)
1.5× WPA/IWP capacity in 1 rack with denser packing and improved tech

This gives you 10‑crew capacity with some redundancy and keeps integration manageable.

C. Full 2× capacity in 4 racks (robust, N+1)

Essentially two ISS‑class WRS lines, cross‑plumbed.

You can lose a whole UPA or WPA line and still support the crew at reduced but survivable capacity.
Best for deep‑space or early Mars base where repair and resupply are slow.

Footprint numbers you can actually design around Using the ISPR envelope:

Single rack (UPA or WPA/IWP or IWP‑derived module):
Height: 2.0 m
Width: 1.05 m
Depth: 0.86 m

Then:
3‑rack WRS (10 crew, optimized):
Width: 3 × 1.05 m = 3.15 m
Height: 2.0 m Depth: 0.86 m

4‑rack WRS (10 crew, robust):
Width: 4 × 1.05 m = 4.2 m Height: 2.0 m Depth: 0.86 m

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