You are not logged in.
This topic is offered in the Science Category for NewMars members who might wish to write documentation of value to those who will be planning infrastructure on Mars.
Clarification: This topic is NOT about exploration. Posts contributed here are about production facilities designed according to the facts already available, with provision for updates as more information becomes available.
In 2025, there are already a great number of papers on record, so this topic can become a repository to links to existing work.
However, details of how to set up a plant on Mars to perform a complete commercial function can be contributed in this topic.
My intention (and hope) is to maintain an index to contributions so future readers can quickly find needed documentation.
The intention of ** this ** topic is to provide detailed advice/procedures for planners to implement.
We have other topics where speculation is not only encouraged, but actively requested.
** This ** topic is NOT intended for speculation. Posts here are requested to be as accurate as possible, in describing equipment and procedures needed to create specific products on Mars.
(th)
Offline
Like button can go here
This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members over time.
Index:
Post #3: GW Johnson Overview of three pre-cursor stages of development
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 28#p230428
(th)
Offline
Like button can go here
There are 3 options for going to Mars (or anywhere else). Those are (1) a flags-and-footprints mission (or missions) for geopolitical reasons, (2) to establish a scientific base only for research purposes, and (3) to establish a scientific and engineering research presence with an eye to permanent settlements. The hardware requirements, and the science objectives, are quite different for those 3 options.
Accordingly, one has to figure out which of those 3 overall objectives one is going to presume. No one has really done that since the voyages of exploration 500 years ago, and they generally didn't do it very well then.
GW
Update: I would only add that the "3-phase process" I defined applies ONLY to the overall objective of permanent settlement. It does not apply directly to establishment of a science-only base (although it overlaps some), and it absolutely does NOT apply to flags-and-footprints.
Those phases for permanent settlement were (1) exploration (what all resources are there, where exactly are they, how much is really there, and how hard will getting it be), (2) experimental base (learn how to live off the land with the resources found in exploration), and (3) start building the settlement ONLY when the experimental base phase is fully successful and the appropriate infrastructure put in place! That infrastructure has to grow as the settlement grows.
The distinction here is OVERALL OBJECTIVE (flags-and-footprints vs science base only, vs create-a-permanent-settlement), vs the 3-PHASE PROCESS that I identified for creating-a-permanent-settlement.
Apollo was only flags-and-footprints.
The Antarctic scientific bases rely entirely on supplies shipped in. None of the research they do has anything to do with living off the land in Antarctica.
Exploration with an eye to settlement hasn't been done since 300-500 years ago.
Last edited by GW Johnson (2025-03-19 08:45:48)
GW Johnson
McGregor, Texas
"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew, especially one dead from a bad management decision"
Offline
Like button can go here