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#676 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Domed habitats... - ...size, materials, and more. » 2025-12-26 12:01:06
Some solutions do not come from the one that finds a problem and requires not AI but people to think about what it is that could be a fix.
AI just searches keywords and try's to match what it thinks you are looking for.
#677 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Operating System Updates Apple Linux Microsoft Raspberry Pi Other » 2025-12-26 11:54:57
For SpaceNut re Post #4030
Thanks for the link to the Data General article on Wikipedia.... That is a ** very ** interesting article...
My work environment did not include exposure to Data General, so I'm glad to have this opportunity to learn about that inspired group of people who spun off from Dec ... I am also interested to learn that you were part of that successful venture! I don't know if you noticed, but toward the bottom of the article, it was reported that the control panel of Data General may have inspired the front panel of the famous MITS Altair 8800, which I was able to acquire in it's original kit form.
(th)
Glad you found this interesting.
I also work in the component R&D lab developing CD-ROMs before they even decided on the plastic disk and more.
#678 Re: Life support systems » Crops » 2025-12-26 11:52:45
For RobertDyck re #341 .... thanks for the word picture of what sounds like a feast for the occasion! Bravo!
Here's a culinary question for you ... the host for lunch yesterday served a baked carrots dish with orange carrots, yellow ones and black ones. I thought the colors were for other vegetables, but other guests assured me they were carrots.
Have you ever heard of non-orange carrots. Somehow I had never encountered them before.
(th)
Carrots were originally white. Then purple and yellow carrots arose. There are also red carrots, and they all existed for centuries. Here's a history, with cartoon video. It's only 6 minutes, 12 seconds.
This sort belongs here as well due to genetic cross breeding of similar plants to get a new versus that has different characteristic.
#679 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Operating System Updates Apple Linux Microsoft Raspberry Pi Other » 2025-12-26 09:35:06
For SpaceNut .... thanks for the reminder of Data General!
I asked Google for a refresh, and it found a number of references...
Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rccMfdxMe1U
The comments section is filled with memories of people who worked with or on that system.
(th)
You found the front runner to the modern PC in single card form. They had its own chip sets making the unit. They had a foundry out in Sunny vale California before the industry went over seas. I actually trouble shot the individual cards that made up the system.
#680 Re: Not So Free Chat » NASA's Jared Isaacman new leader makes his priorities clear on day one » 2025-12-26 09:16:53
Some will say that the wave off of issues with Starliner is another
#682 Re: Human missions » Boeing Starliner OFT-2 » 2025-12-26 08:59:44
Safety panel: NASA downplayed Boeing Starliner problems
Sounds more like management not engineers making what could be another disaster in the making.
#683 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Mars Airlocks and uses » 2025-12-26 08:45:01
You AI generated content
A Mars airlock for clean entry focuses on planetary protection by minimizing Earth microbe transfer and Martian dust contamination, often using multi-chamber designs with dedicated suit ports (like NASA's MESA concept) for external donning/doffing, specialized dust mitigation (air showers, wiping), and integrated suit/equipment storage to keep the habitat sterile, essentially acting as a "mudroom" to prevent biological and particulate cross-contamination during crew EVAs.
Key Design Principles for Mars Airlocks:
Multi-Chamber System: Instead of one chamber, systems often propose two or three sections (antechambers) to create distinct zones for suit preparation, dust removal, and entry into the habitat.
External Suit Donning/Doffing (MESA Concept): A key innovation is the Mars EVA Suit Airlock (MESA), where suits attach externally to the habitat. The crew enters the suit from the habitat, then exits the airlock for EVA, keeping suit surfaces away from the main living area.
Dust Mitigation:
Air Showers & Wiping Stations: Integrated systems to blast/wipe dust off suits and equipment before entering the main habitat.
Specialized Ports: Airlocks have dedicated ports for suits, allowing them to be docked and maintained externally.
Integrated Storage: Airlocks function as storage for suits, tools, and emergency supplies (water, rations) to keep them outside the primary habitable zone, as discussed in this concept by Jenkins, accessed via newmars.com.
Planetary Protection Focus: The primary driver is preventing terrestrial microbes from contaminating Mars (forward contamination) and potentially harmful Martian materials from entering the habitat (backward contamination).
How it Works (Conceptual Example):
Before EVA: Astronauts don suits within the habitat, pass through the airlock into the external suit port, and detach.
After EVA: Astronauts re-enter the airlock, attach suits, go through decontamination (air/wipes), remove suits in the inner chamber, and enter the habitat, leaving contaminated gear behind.
These designs aim to reconcile human exploration needs with strict planetary protection requirements, making the airlock a critical interface for keeping Mars clean
#684 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Airlocks » 2025-12-26 08:44:19
A Mars airlock for clean entry focuses on planetary protection by minimizing Earth microbe transfer and Martian dust contamination, often using multi-chamber designs with dedicated suit ports (like NASA's MESA concept) for external donning/doffing, specialized dust mitigation (air showers, wiping), and integrated suit/equipment storage to keep the habitat sterile, essentially acting as a "mudroom" to prevent biological and particulate cross-contamination during crew EVAs.
Key Design Principles for Mars Airlocks:
Multi-Chamber System: Instead of one chamber, systems often propose two or three sections (antechambers) to create distinct zones for suit preparation, dust removal, and entry into the habitat.
External Suit Donning/Doffing (MESA Concept): A key innovation is the Mars EVA Suit Airlock (MESA), where suits attach externally to the habitat. The crew enters the suit from the habitat, then exits the airlock for EVA, keeping suit surfaces away from the main living area.
Dust Mitigation:
Air Showers & Wiping Stations: Integrated systems to blast/wipe dust off suits and equipment before entering the main habitat.
Specialized Ports: Airlocks have dedicated ports for suits, allowing them to be docked and maintained externally.
Integrated Storage: Airlocks function as storage for suits, tools, and emergency supplies (water, rations) to keep them outside the primary habitable zone, as discussed in this concept by Jenkins, accessed via newmars.com.
Planetary Protection Focus: The primary driver is preventing terrestrial microbes from contaminating Mars (forward contamination) and potentially harmful Martian materials from entering the habitat (backward contamination).
How it Works (Conceptual Example):
Before EVA: Astronauts don suits within the habitat, pass through the airlock into the external suit port, and detach.
After EVA: Astronauts re-enter the airlock, attach suits, go through decontamination (air/wipes), remove suits in the inner chamber, and enter the habitat, leaving contaminated gear behind.
These designs aim to reconcile human exploration needs with strict planetary protection requirements, making the airlock a critical interface for keeping Mars clean
#685 Re: Meta New Mars » Housekeeping » 2025-12-26 08:40:53
You found the front runner to the modern PC in single card form. The had its own chip sets making the unit. They had a foundry out in Sunny vale California before the industry went over seas.
#686 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Domed habitats... - ...size, materials, and more. » 2025-12-26 08:37:47
#687 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Designing Mars equipment garage » 2025-12-26 08:35:21
Project design goals for Mars construction center on sustainability, autonomy, and protection, focusing on using local resources (regolith) via 3D printing, pre-fabrication, and robotics to build habitats resistant to radiation, dust, and extreme temperatures, ensuring life support while minimizing Earth-based supplies and maximizing habitat modularity and long-term functionality for crew safety and expansion.
Core Design Goals
1. In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU):
• Use Regolith: Harvest Martian soil (regolith) as the primary building material for 3D printing structures.
• Create Building Materials: Develop methods (like laser sintering) to turn regolith into strong, durable construction materials (e.g., ceramic-like structures).
2. Autonomy & Robotics:
• Autonomous Construction: Deploy robotic swarms to excavate sites, print structures, and prepare habitats before astronauts arrive.
• Versatile Robots: Use robots with interchangeable tools for various tasks, including printing, sensing, and repair.
3. Environmental Protection:
• Radiation Shielding: Design structures with thick regolith shells or underground placement to shield against cosmic radiation.
• Thermal Management: Build to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Dust Mitigation: Incorporate robust designs and materials to handle corrosive Martian dust.
4. Sustainability & Efficiency:
• Minimize Earth Cargo: Reduce reliance on Earth by building with local materials.
• Energy Efficiency: Optimize shapes and use materials to minimize energy needed for construction.
• Waste Repurposing: Recycle waste into new furniture or parts using 3D printing.
5. Habitability & Modularity:
• Modular Design: Create connectable habitat units for easy expansion and resource sharing.
• Zoned Interiors: Separate wet (lab, kitchen) and dry (bedroom, workstation) areas for efficient resource use.
• Pressurized Cores: Use inflatable or prefabricated modules for the core pressurized areas, covered by the 3D-printed regolith shell.
6. Long-Term Viability:
• Durability & Repairability: Design components for long operational lifetimes and ease of onsite repair.
• Scalability: Create systems that can grow from initial outposts to larger settlement
For SpaceNut .... Your new topic about garage/hanger volume looks promising. I don't think anyone will be able to fill such a volume with very expensive clean air. Clean air will be reserved for use in habitats, and inside sealed vehicles. I can't imagine anyone being able to afford to take the time to pump down a garage or hanger sized volume just to work on a vehicle.
I think it makes more sense to bring the vehicle into a volume where you can close the huge door and let dust settle to the floor.
Mechanical sweepers might be a way to collect the dust, because vacuums aren't going to work in the thin Mars atmosphere.
Ingenuity showed that large fans ** can ** work on Mars.
It might make sense to blow dust off of vehicles before driving them into a garage or hanger.
Humans may have experience performing maintenance in sand storms. It's not something I've heard much about.
(th)
I would say that the standard double door system needs a second set to be able to do a cleaning room function before entry into the dome.
We would also use a SCUBA system which is similar to those used in Desert Storm.
As seen you get a bottled air system 5000 psi composite tank with a filtered snorkel to airlock air using an air mask.
#688 Exploration to Settlement Creation » WIKI Designing Mars equipment garage » 2025-12-25 18:08:54
- SpaceNut
- Replies: 40
THIS Is not a discussion topic
old title had the naughty word within it Designing insitu Mars equipment garage
Whether the equipment is delivered by a cargo starship or via a Conex box delivery system
the end is to protect the supply that is very expensive to provide.. could be considered as option 1 for how to protect but its considered imported just like the equipment required.
This was just an initial sending of equipment that while larger than what Nasa is providing it was not the large industrial stuff used in earth moving. While the connex box might fit most of the small equipment it is a temporary first mission attempt to protect as best as one can.
Base initial mission ability
Crew & Cargo Requirements (Initial Mission Concept):
Crew: Two Starships for crew, potentially 10-20 people per ship, though future missions aim for 100+.
Cargo: Four Starships for supplies (habitat, ISRU equipment, food, etc.), carrying about 100 tonnes each (400 tonnes total).
For a follow on plan:
For a second, larger human mission to Mars as outlined in potential SpaceX plans, the required number of Starships is expected to be a fleet including two crewed Starships and four cargo Starships. These are part of an overall mission architecture to build a self-sustaining city on Mars.
Mission Details
Crew Starships: Two Starships would transport crew, with an estimated capacity of 100 people per ship, though initial missions might carry a smaller number (around 12-36). The crew ships are designed for a faster, more direct trajectory to minimize health risks like radiation exposure.Cargo Starships: Four cargo-only Starships would be sent on a slightly longer, more energy-efficient (low-energy) trajectory to carry necessary equipment and supplies. Each cargo ship can carry over 100 metric tons of payload.
Primary Objective: A key function of the initial cargo missions is to pre-position infrastructure, especially the equipment to produce propellant (methane and oxygen) from local Martian resources (in-situ resource utilization or ISRU). This is essential for the return journey to Earth and future missions.
Operational Requirements
To execute this mission architecture, extensive in-orbit refueling is necessary:
Each crewed Starship would require approximately 15 refueling launches in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) before departing for Mars.
Each cargo Starship would require about 4 refueling launches in LEO.
Ultimately, for a fully self-sufficient Mars city, Elon Musk has stated that a fleet of 1,000 Starships would be needed to transport a million people and millions of tonnes of cargo over several transfer windows that occur every approximately 26 months.
That would mean quite the buildup when going back to the same site. Plus we will have setup fuel creation possibly on the first mission to aid with continual build up.
Goal is to provide an enclosed environment to protect crew and equipment in use on mars.
A support structure to protect the equipment and crew so as to be able to work in shirt sleeves.
Designing construction on Mars focuses on using local resources (regolith), autonomous 3D printing robots for habitats, and innovative materials like "Marscrete" or fungi (mycelium), aiming for self-sufficiency by reducing Earth-launched materials, with key challenges including radiation, logistics, and creating sustainable living spaces. Designs often blend robotic 3D printing of outer shells with pre-fabricated inflatable cores, creating radiation-shielded, multi-functional habitats before crew arrival.
Key Design & Construction Principles:
• In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Using Martian soil (regolith) and elements like sulfur to create building materials is crucial.
• Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing): Autonomous robots print structures using Martian materials, reducing costs and labor.
• Robotic Swarms: Modular, intelligent robots with interchangeable tools can build, repair, and reconfigure structures.
• Hybrid Approaches: Combining 3D-printed regolith shells with inflatable modules (pre-fab from Earth) for core living spaces.
Materials & Methods:
• Marscrete: A sulfur-based concrete using Martian simulant, hardened by heat, ideal for 3D printing.
• Mycelium/Fungi: Growing habitats from fungi, potentially self-healing and providing insulation and filtration.
• Chitin-based Materials: Experiments with insect exoskeletons to create strong, low-energy building materials.
Habitat Features:
• Radiation Shielding: Thick regolith shells or water layers protect against cosmic radiation.
• Double-Shell Designs: For improved insulation and structural integrity.
• Integrated Systems: Incorporating labs, kitchens, and living spaces, often with aesthetic considerations for psychological well-being.
Project Examples:
• NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge: Competitions driving innovation in Martian construction.
• MARSHA (AI SpaceFactory): A cylindrical, 3D-printed habitat design using Martian polymers.
• Foster + Partners' Mars Habitat: A design using autonomous robots to excavate and build a crater for inflatable modules.
Future Vision:
• Goals extend beyond habitats to self-sustaining Martian cities, utilizing advanced rocketry (like SpaceX's Starship) for mass transport
Designing an in-situ Mars equipment garage involves leveraging local resources (ISRU) to provide robust shielding and a pressurized, sealed environment for maintenance, repair, and storage of rovers and other surface equipment.
Key Design Principles
Radiation and Micrometeorite Shielding: The primary structure must protect sensitive equipment from intense solar and cosmic radiation, as well as micrometeorite impacts. This is typically achieved by covering the habitat with a thick layer of Martian regolith.Airlock and Pressurization System: A multi-stage airlock system is critical for maintaining internal pressure and preventing the ingress of toxic Martian dust (perchlorates) into the main habitat or garage area.
ISRU Material Use: Construction should prioritize the use of local materials (regolith, basalt) to minimize the payload required from Earth.
Modular and Expandable: The design should allow for phased construction, starting with an initial structure and allowing for future expansion as the mission grows.Construction Methodology
An autonomous, phased approach is generally proposed for construction before human arrival.Site Preparation: Robotic systems select and prepare the site, which may involve excavating a cavity or a lava tube to utilize natural shielding.
Autonomous Construction: Autonomous 3D-printing robots build the primary structure using a blend of fused regolith and potentially imported binders or prefabricated components like carbon nanotubes.
Internal Outfitting: Inflatable modules or rigid internal liners (e.g., HDPE plastic to provide an airtight seal) are deployed and connected within the protective shell.Functional Requirements
Vehicle Maintenance Bay: A large, climate-controlled area for repairing rovers and other large equipment.Airlock System: A large, vehicle-sized airlock for moving equipment in and out, with systems to remove dust.
Power and Communication: Connection to the base's power grid (e.g., nuclear fission units) and communication networks.
Storage and Workshop: Areas for storing spare parts, tools, and raw materials, including a manufacturing bay for 3D-printing spare parts from metals and plastics.
Structure type is not defined as we must know what type of early equipment type as well as the fuels that they will need to make use of. It is suggested to be a separate attached system with possible machine shop capability.
The idea that you would have no equipment at all is generally not feasible; some minimal, specialized equipment and robotic systems would be sent from Earth to act as the initial "factories" and "builders". How ISRU Addresses the "No Equipment" Constraint (Relatively) The goal is to minimize the mass and volume of material that must be launched from Earth, not to eliminate equipment entirely. Specialized, compact, and often autonomous, equipment would be sent first to leverage local materials.
The strategy involves: Sending minimal, critical machinery: Instead of sending heavy raw materials like concrete or steel beams, lightweight robotic equipment, 3D printers, and processing hardware are sent.
Utilizing local materials: The robots would use abundant Martian resources, primarily the soil (regolith) and atmosphere, to produce usable products.
Automated construction: The construction process would likely be managed by autonomous or semi-autonomous robots before humans arrive, allowing for the creation of habitats and infrastructure in advance.
Examples of In-Situ Resources for Construction With specialized equipment,
Mars offers several resources: Regolith (Martian soil): This can be used as a primary building material. Processes like sintering (fusing with heat) or mixing with binding agents (like an epoxy or sulfur) can create bricks, ceramics, and concrete-like structures for radiation shielding and general construction..
Other suggestions is to possibly make this the staging start foundry for metals processing.
Airlock Design for Mars name changed for my content only is a risk management item for use of protected equipment and gives crews the means to fix in a protective structure. Addressing need is a sub topic.
#689 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Operating System Updates Apple Linux Microsoft Raspberry Pi Other » 2025-12-25 18:01:08
Now that is going back to my early years working at Data General which made a clone of the machine called NOVA, 1982 was the year.
#690 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Domed habitats... - ...size, materials, and more. » 2025-12-25 17:07:41
The airlock once closed for entry with the mars air within it is then re-pressurized with the dome air that was with in it for the exit from the dome. Sure the quantity of air will be diluted but it still will not be processed until its mixed in with the dome air.
The dust will contain hex a chlorides and other compounds' that will not get filtered as well as the space suits and tools will also have it stuck to it by static cling.
#691 Re: Not So Free Chat » NASA's Jared Isaacman new leader makes his priorities clear on day one » 2025-12-25 17:00:43
One of the items which has occurred is the competition for the lunar lander and I can feel that delays are only part of the reasons.
#692 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Airlocks » 2025-12-25 16:49:02
I was thinking also about the dome construction equipment repair for when it not in use, So a shirt sleeve repair garage is also needed with an air lock that is vehicle sized as well.
#693 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Airlocks » 2025-12-25 16:47:50
For SpaceNut re post in Airlocks topic ... https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 03#p236503
Thanks for the link to that impressive paper from 2000!
Update: Overnight it occurred to me that your focus on airlock design, operation and maintenance for Mars might become the first step in a sequence leading to practical knowledge for life on Mars. We have practical ideas scattered all over the NewMars archive, but it is scattered among a great number of posts that are exploratory or speculative in nature.
As we enter 2026, we have an opportunity to follow your lead and begin to build a collection of Rules to Live on Mars by.
We also have the opportunity to seriously consider a new Category for the Dome project on Mars. If we decide to proceed with that, we have the potential to accumulate a set of data that a project manager could use to plan the entire operation. I expect it would take more than one Earth year to finish that effort.
(th)
#694 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » 2025-12-24 18:22:41
Sudden drop just before 1990..
The global decline in bauxite mining in and around 1990 was primarily due to a stagnating demand for primary aluminum, which resulted in a worldwide oversupply of the metal and structural changes in the global market.
Specific factors contributing to the drop include:
Global Overcapacity: Additions to aluminum production capacity were larger than the increase in demand, leading to an oversupply that reduced prices and the need for new bauxite.
Increased Competition: Traditional producers, particularly in the Caribbean and the U.S., faced increased competition from other bauxite-endowed countries like Australia and Brazil, which had cost advantages.
Economic Transition in Eastern Europe: The dissolution of the Eastern Bloc and the war in former Yugoslavia seriously affected production in those regions, and the subsequent export of cheap aluminum from former USSR republics into Western markets contributed to the global glut.
Domestic U.S. Factors: In the United States, a significant reduction in domestic production in 1990 was attributed to the permanent closure of the last major bauxite mining operation in Arkansas. The U.S. became highly dependent on foreign bauxite sources, with most domestic output used for non-metallurgical products.
Operational Inefficiencies: Some countries, like Guyana, faced loss of market share due to un-competitiveness and inefficient management under state ownership
So the stagnation was due to importing being cheaper most likely.
#696 Re: Exploration to Settlement Creation » Domed habitats... - ...size, materials, and more. » 2025-12-24 17:44:38
A Mars airlock to a 7.5 psi dome entrance involves a crucial pressure transition, requiring robust, sealed systems like those simulated in *Space Engineers* or *Stationeers, using inner/outer doors, vents, sensors, and timers to cycle air from the low-pressure Martian exterior (around 0.1 psi) to the pressurized habitat (7.5 psi) while filtering dust, ensuring safety and breathable air, often with automated sequences for seamless, efficient passage.
Key Components & Functions:
Dual Doors: An inner door (habitat side) and an outer door (exterior side) to create a sealed chamber.
Airlock Chamber: The space between the doors, containing sensors and vents.
Vents & Pumps: Active vents manage air flow; pumps rapidly depressurize or fill the chamber with the habitat's air (or Martian CO2 for initial pressurization).
Sensors & Timers: Detect occupants, monitor pressure, and automate the sequence (e.g., outer door opens when depressurized, inner opens when pressurized).
Dust Filtration (Air Showers): Critical for Mars to prevent corrosive dust from entering habitats.
Operational Sequence (Pressurization Example):
Entry: Person enters from the Martian surface (low pressure) into the airlock, closing the outer door.
Depressurization (if needed): Air vents to the outside or is pumped out.
Pressurization: Air from the 7.5 psi dome is let into the chamber via a controlled valve.
Inner Door Opens: Once pressure matches the habitat, the inner door unlocks and opens, allowing passage.
Key Considerations for 7.5 psi:
Pressure Differential: The system must handle the significant pressure difference between the near-vacuum of Mars and the 7.5 psi of the dome.
Martian Dust: Requires advanced filtering (HEPA) and possibly air showers to keep interiors clean and equipment safe.
Automation: Sensors and programmable logic (like in game simulations) ensure smooth, safe transitions without human error.
This system ensures life support, environmental control, and protection from the harsh Martian conditions while allowing continuous access to the habitat
So the habitat air is purged from inside the air lock and drawn down to mars entry levels which is then once door closed to the outside is then back filled to the dome pressure.
Mars' atmosphere is overwhelmingly carbon dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)), about 95-96%, with trace amounts of carbon monoxide (\(CO\)) around 0.06% to 0.09% by volume, but the total atmospheric pressure is extremely low, less than 1% of Earth's, making \(CO\) content small in absolute terms. The pressure fluctuates seasonally, averaging around 6-7 millibars (mbar), but this is still very thin, meaning even 95% \(CO_{2}\) doesn't create intense greenhouse effects like on Venus. Key Figures: Carbon Dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)): ~95.3%Nitrogen (\(N_{2}\)): ~2.7%Argon (Ar): ~1.6%Oxygen (\(O_{2}\)): ~0.16%Carbon Monoxide (\(CO\)): ~0.06% - 0.09%Water Vapor (\(H_{2}O\)): ~0.03% (variable)
so each small chamber builds up what could be poisonous to the crew inside the dome.
#697 Re: Human missions » Humidity Moisture Habitat Air Management » 2025-12-24 17:28:59
Gasses inside are hot so they float to the top of the dome accumulating. Cold gasses sink and can come from the floor building up over time.
other is from bacteria and plant growth plus from the humans that are inside.
Also this was the heat source from burning methane for the food soil growth cells to keep temperature to create co2 but incomplete burn makes Co...
Human respiration primarily involves taking in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide and water vapor, but the air we breathe out is a mixture containing nitrogen, unused oxygen, and trace amounts of other waste gases like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitric oxide (NO), and ammonia (NH3). While carbon dioxide is the main waste product of cellular respiration, exhaled air still contains a significant amount of nitrogen (about 78%) and some oxygen (around 16%).
Key Gases Given Off Carbon Dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)): The primary waste gas, produced when cells use oxygen to break down sugar for energy.Water Vapor (\(H_{2}O\)): A byproduct of cellular metabolism, released as humidified vapor.
Nitrogen (\(N_{2}\)): The most abundant gas in the air, most of which is exhaled unchanged, as humans don't use it.Oxygen (\(O_{2}\)): A portion of the oxygen we inhale isn't used and is exhaled, which is why rescue breaths in CPR can still provide oxygen.
Trace Gases: Small amounts of other substances, including:Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).Nitric Oxide (NO).Ammonia (NH3).Carbon Monoxide (CO).Alcohol (when consumed).
The Process Inhalation: Air (21% Oxygen, 78% Nitrogen, ~0.04% Carbon Dioxide) enters the lungs.
Gas Exchange: In the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs), oxygen moves into the blood, and carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli.
Exhalation: The diaphragm and chest muscles push air out, carrying the waste \(CO_{2}\) and water vapor, along with unused nitrogen and oxygen, out of the body
#698 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » 2025-12-24 17:20:25
The cost comparison between mining bauxite and importing it is complex and depends heavily on location, quality of the bauxite, and market conditions. Generally, mining bauxite can be cheaper than importing it, but only if significant domestic reserves and infrastructure are available.
Cost Breakdown: Mining vs. Importing
Mining Bauxite: Initial mining costs for high-volume producers can be low, sometimes under $30 per ton. However, this requires substantial initial investment in infrastructure, equipment, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Importing Bauxite: Import prices can fluctuate significantly based on global supply and demand, geopolitical factors, and freight costs. Recent (2024/2025) average import prices (free alongside ship, or f.a.s./FOB) in the U.S and China have ranged from approximately $30 to over $100 per ton, with prices recently peaking at $115–$130 per mt in early 2025 due to supply disruptions
Global Imported Bauxite Prices Remain Stable at $74/mt
So if you want lower costs you do not invest in capital equipment and fights against mining regulations.
#699 Re: Not So Free Chat » Politics » 2025-12-24 16:10:14
The U.S. primarily relies on imported bauxite (aluminum ore) for its aluminum production, though small amounts are mined domestically for non-metal uses like abrasives and proppants in oil/gas drilling. Arkansas has historically been the main U.S. source, but mining for metal ceased years ago, with the nation now depending on imports from countries like Jamaica, Guinea, and Brazil for its refineries, mainly in Louisiana.
Key Points:
Primary Ore: Bauxite, a rock rich in aluminum hydroxides (gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore).
Domestic Mining: Limited; primarily for non-metallurgical uses like refractories or hydraulic fracturing proppants, not primary aluminum.
Main Source: Imports, with significant quantities coming from Jamaica, Guyana, China, and Australia.
Refining: U.S. alumina refineries are in Louisiana, converting imported bauxite into alumina for smelting.
Energy Intensive: Aluminum production is energy-intensive, making electricity costs a major factor in U.S. smelter operations.U.S. Bauxite Resources:
Arkansas: Historically the largest domestic producer, but mining for metal stopped in the 1980s.
Other States: Small deposits exist in Alabama, Georgia, and other areas, but aren't major suppliers for metal production.
In essence, while the U.S. consumes and produces aluminum, it relies heavily on foreign sources for the raw bauxite ore.Yes, the U.S. has bauxite, primarily in Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia, but production is small and mostly for non-metallurgical uses like chemicals, abrasives, and proppants for fracking; the nation imports the vast majority of its metallurgical-grade bauxite for aluminum production from other countries like Jamaica, Guinea, and Brazil.
Key Details:
Domestic Production: Small amounts are mined in the Southeastern U.S., with Arkansas being the leading domestic producer, though not for primary aluminum metal in recent decades.
Uses: U.S. bauxite is used for chemicals, abrasives, cements, and hydraulic fracturing proppants, not as much for aluminum metal as in the past.
Imports: The U.S. relies heavily on imports for aluminum, with significant quantities of metallurgical bauxite coming from global suppliers.
History: Major U.S. bauxite mining for aluminum happened in the past, especially in Arkansas, but stopped in the 1980s for metal production.
Mean mining needs to increase within the US
#700 Re: Human missions » Humidity Moisture Habitat Air Management » 2025-12-24 15:39:08
If air locks are well as soil seepage happens then Co will be present. Plus acidents of paper and other things can burn with in the domes atmosphere.
Mars' atmosphere is overwhelmingly carbon dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)), about 95-96%, with trace amounts of carbon monoxide (\(CO\)) around 0.06% to 0.09% by volume, but the total atmospheric pressure is extremely low, less than 1% of Earth's, making \(CO\) content small in absolute terms. The pressure fluctuates seasonally, averaging around 6-7 millibars (mbar), but this is still very thin, meaning even 95% \(CO_{2}\) doesn't create intense greenhouse effects like on Venus. Key Figures: Carbon Dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)): ~95.3%Nitrogen (\(N_{2}\)): ~2.7%Argon (Ar): ~1.6%Oxygen (\(O_{2}\)): ~0.16%Carbon Monoxide (\(CO\)): ~0.06% - 0.09%Water Vapor (\(H_{2}O\)): ~0.03% (variable)