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project design to produce water on mars system for science mission size
Designing a Mars water production system for science missions involves extracting subsurface ice or hydrated minerals, processing them (heating/microwave), and collecting the vapor, using methods like drills (Coiled Tubing), heated regolith extraction (C.R.A.T.E.R.), or Rodriguez Wells, focusing on reliability, low mass, power efficiency for tasks like life support (ISRU) and propellant, with key components including drills, heaters, condensers, storage, and potentially atmospheric processors for oxygen/methane.
Core Concepts & Technologies
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): The overarching goal is using local Martian resources (water ice, atmospheric CO2) to create needed consumables (water, oxygen, methane fuel).
Extraction Methods:
Drilling: Using drills (like the Mars Ice Drill or Coiled Tubing) to reach buried ice, potentially melting it in situ.
Regolith Heating: Heating Martian soil (regolith) to release bound water molecules (e.g., 200-500°C).
Rodriguez Well (Rodwell): A method using a well to access large subsurface ice deposits, especially glacier-like forms.
Processing & Collection:
Microwave Heating: Efficiently freeing water from soil.
Condensers: Cooling water vapor to collect liquid water.
Storage: Tanks for storing extracted water.
Atmospheric Processing (for oxygen/methane): Using the Sabatier process (CO2 + H2 → CH4 + H2O) to make fuel, creating water as a byproduct.
System Design for Science Missions (Scalable)
Targeting: Use orbital data to find shallow subsurface ice or hydrated minerals, crucial for accessibility.
Excavation/Drilling Unit: A robust, potentially semi-autonomous system (e.g., drill with air/water jets) to reach the ice/hydrated material.
Processing Unit:
Heating Element: For regolith (microwaves/resistive heating) or sublimating ice.
Separation/Condensation: Capturing water vapor.
Collection & Storage: A reliable system to meter and store the water in tanks, potentially with internal heating/cooling loops.
Power & Control: Solar/RTG power, autonomous controls for simple operations, and telemetry for remote monitoring.
Integration (Optional): Link to a life support system (like CHRSy) for crewed missions or propellant production.
Example Project Elements (Student/Small Scale)
C.R.A.T.E.R. System (Colorado School of Mines): A conveyor belt system to feed Martian soil into a microwave-heated casing for water extraction.
Mars Ice Drill (FAU): A drill to penetrate ice, heat it, and pump water to the surface for collection
Designing a Mars water system for a science mission (e.g., 3-6 crew) involves In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) like extracting subsurface ice (drilling/melting) or atmospheric vapor, combining with water recycling (ISS-style) for reliability, and using systems like Sabatier reactors for propellant/oxygen production, all needing redundancy and significant power (160kW+) for a ~1.5 yr stay, balancing mass/cost with crew needs for drinking, hygiene, science, and crucial life support. Key Design Components & Technologies Water Sourcing (ISRU)Subsurface Ice Extraction: Drilling (e.g., Coiled Tubing method) to access buried ice, followed by melting.Atmospheric Extraction: Capturing water vapor from the Martian atmosphere.Waste & Recycling: Advanced systems to recover water from urine, humidity, and hygiene, similar to ISS but with higher reliability for Mars.Water Processing & StoragePurification: Filtration, reverse osmosis, distillation, and UV treatment.Storage: Durable tanks (FRP, PEX) with anti-freeze/heating to prevent freezing, plus distribution piping.Water for Propulsion & Life SupportSabatier Reactor: Uses imported Hydrogen (\(H_{2}\)) and Martian Carbon Dioxide (\(CO_{2}\)) to create methane (\(CH_{4}\)) fuel and water (\(H_{2}O\)).Electrolysis: Splits water into Hydrogen and Oxygen, providing breathable air and rocket propellant (for ascent/return). Crew Size & System Implications Crew Size (e.g., 3-6): Impacts total water needed (drinking, hygiene, food prep, science), influencing habitat volume, water processing capacity, and ISRU system scale.Mass & Cost: ISRU dramatically cuts Earth-launched mass by using local resources, making missions feasible and more autonomous.Reliability: Higher redundancy and robust systems are critical due to the long travel time and inability to quickly resupply if systems fail. Example Mission Scenario (6 Crew) Pre-deployed Cargo: Habitat, ISRU plant, Descent/Ascent Vehicle (DAV) sent ahead.Crew Transit: Transported in a separate vehicle, potentially using water electrolysis for propulsion.Surface Operations: ISRU system extracts water, processes it, and stores it; water is used for life support and creating propellant for return. Key Considerations for Science Missions Power: Significant power (160kW+) needed for ISRU, life support, and thermal control.Science Payload: Water use for scientific experiments (e.g., hydroponics, sample processing) must be budgeted.Planetary Protection: Strict protocols for handling potential Martian microbes
Water Extraction from Martian Soil
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ISRU Technology Development for Extraction of Water from the Mars Surface
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Exploration sized
Designing a Mars water production system for a crew of 4-6 involves a multi-pronged approach: In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) from Martian soil/ice, highly efficient water recycling (up to 98%+ on ISS) for transit, and robust storage/treatment systems, requiring advanced drills/miners, Sabatier reactors, electrolysis units, filtration (RO/Forward Osmosis), and storage tanks (FRP/PEX) with nanotechnology for a 1.5-2.5 year mission to meet hygiene, metabolic, and fuel needs. Crew size (often 4-6) dictates scale, with larger crews needing more redundancy and capacity, but fewer crew (e.g., 3) significantly reduces mass/cost, influencing system design. Key System Components & Design Principles Water Sourcing (ISRU):Regolith Extraction: Drills/heaters (like Mars Ice Drill concept) to extract water vapor from Martian soil (regolith) or subsurface ice.Atmospheric Extraction: Condensing atmospheric water vapor, though less direct than soil extraction.Chemical Conversion (Sabatier/Electrolysis): Using imported hydrogen and atmospheric \(\text{CO}_{2}\) to make methane fuel and water (\(\text{H}_{2}\text{O}\)), then electrolyzing water for breathing oxygen/rocket oxidizer.Water Production & Processing:Water Recovery System (WRS): Similar to ISS, recycling urine, humidity condensate, hygiene water with high efficiency (near 98%).Treatment: Reverse Osmosis (RO), Forward Osmosis (FO), distillation, and advanced filtration for purification.Storage: Lightweight tanks (Fiber-Reinforced Plastic - FRP, crosslinked Polyethylene - PEX) with leak detection, heating to prevent freezing.Life Support Integration:Metabolic Water: Generated from food/fuel (like the movie The Martian's concept using rocket fuel, though ISRU is preferred).Hygiene Water: Separate loop with efficient recovery and reuse. Crew Size Considerations (4-6 Astronauts) 6 Crew (Conjunction Class Mission): Longer stays (18 months surface), higher demand for water, requires larger ISRU units, more robust recycling, significant water storage redundancy.4 Crew (Transit/Surface): Lower overall demand, potentially simpler systems, but still needs high reliability for long durations (400-500 days transit + surface stay).Smaller Crew (3): Significantly reduces mass/cost/complexity, making larger ISRU systems more feasible or requiring less overall capacity, but fewer hands for maintenance. Mission Profile Example (6 Crew, ~2.5 Years Total) Transit (9-12 months): Relies heavily on recycled water, backup supplies (30+ metric tons if all water carried).Surface Stay (18 months): ISRU becomes critical for sustaining hygiene, metabolic needs, and propellant production for return.Key Design Goal: Minimize water mass from Earth; maximize ISRU & recycling to make the mission feasibl
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Colony or settlement sized
Designing a Mars water system for a crew of 4-6 (initial) to dozens (colony) relies on In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), primarily extracting water from Martian soil/ice via heating or microwave drilling, supplemented by high-efficiency closed-loop recycling of hygiene/wastewater, plus atmospheric water harvesting (like MARRS), all integrated with habitats (MHUs) and power (solar/nuclear), ensuring redundancy for survival and growth.
1. Water Sources & Extraction (ISRU)
Subsurface Ice/Hydrated Minerals: The main source; systems heat regolith (200-500°C) or use microwave energy down boreholes to vaporize water, then collect and condense it.
Atmospheric Water: Systems like MARRS (Mars Atmospheric Resource Recovery System) capture water vapor from the thin Martian atmosphere.
2. Water Processing & Recycling (Life Support)
ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support Systems): Highly reliable systems (similar to ISS) to recycle water from urine, humidity, and hygiene.
Bioregenerative Systems: Using algae or plants (in greenhouses/hydroponics) to further purify water and produce food, reducing Earth dependence.
3. System Design for Different Crew Sizes
Early Missions (4-6 crew): Focus on robust, high-reliability closed-loop systems with significant storage (1000+ days' supply) and initial ISRU capability.
Colony (Growing to 20+): Requires large-scale, scalable ISRU plants, modular habitats (MHUs) with extendable capacity, and robust power generation (solar/nuclear).
4. Key Components & Concepts
ISRU Hardware: Mobile units (like Honeybee Robotics' MISWE) for exploration and extraction.
Habitat Modules (MHUs): Inflatable structures with integrated water processing, living areas, and crop growth zones.
Power: Thin-film solar arrays or small nuclear reactors to power extraction and life support.
Redundancy: Critical for survival; backup storage, parallel systems, and emergency escape routes within habitats.
5. Water Needs Estimation
Baseline: Around 0.6-0.7 kg/person/hour (consumption, hygiene, plant growth) in a gravity environment, with high reclamation.
Plants: Require additional water (approx. 0.003 kg/hr/person) not easily reclaimed.
Example Design Framework (for a growing colony)
Initial Landing: Crew of 4-6 with pre-deployed ISRU hardware and life support units.
Expansion (Year 2+): Increase crew (6, 12, 24 per mission) using new missions, deploy larger ISRU facilities, establish larger crop areas, and build more habitat clusters.
ISRU Integration: Automated systems extract water, feed it to storage, processing units, and greenhouses, ensuring continuous supply
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cooling or dehumidiation
For a structure with a 200 m (656 ft) diameter and 120 m (394 ft) tall parabolic dome, standard High-Volume, Low-Speed (HVLS) ceiling fans, typically with diameters up to 7.3 meters (24 feet), would be used in a calculated array to provide effective air circulation. Multiple fans, rather than a single massive fan, are required due to the immense size of the space.
Step 1: Calculate the Floor Area and Assess Fan Coverage The floor area of the dome is a circle with a radius of 100 m:\(\text{Area}=\pi \times \text{radius}^{2}=\pi \times 100^{2}\approx 31,416\,\text{m}^{2}\,(338,166\,\text{ft}^{2})\)A single large HVLS fan (e.g., 7.3 m diameter) typically covers between 900 and 1,500 square meters. For cooling purposes, the coverage area is roughly five times the fan's diameter for large-blade fans, but for destratification (air mixing in very high spaces), it can be up to ten times.
Step 2: Determine the Number and Placement of Fans Given the vast area, an array of fans is necessary. The general guideline is to space fans a distance equal to at least one fan diameter apart, or up to three times the diameter depending on the manufacturer and application. For consistent coverage, a grid pattern is ideal. For such a massive, open space, consulting with an HVLS expert for a custom layout drawing is crucial. The number of 7.3-meter (24-foot) fans could range from 21 to over 30 to cover the entire area effectively, depending on specific airflow requirements and building obstructions.
Step 3: Consider Ceiling Height and Fan Mounting The 120 m (394 ft) ceiling is extremely high. While fans perform well when mounted between 6 and 12 meters (20 to 40 feet) above the floor, longer downrods might be needed to position the fans within the occupied zone for optimal air movement. The fans must also maintain safe clearance from the floor (at least 3 m or 10 ft) and other structural elements.
Answer: For a parabolic dome ceiling with a 200 m diameter and 120 m height, multiple HVLS fans with diameters typically ranging from 6.1 meters to 7.3 meters (20 to 24 feet) would be required. The exact number and strategic placement of fans, likely exceeding two dozen units, should be determined through a professional airflow study to ensure uniform air circulation and temperature control
Commercial 7m (7-meter) fans refer to large industrial fans, often HVLS (High-Volume, Low-Speed) ceiling fans, used for cooling vast spaces like warehouses, factories, malls, and arenas, providing massive airflow (measured in CFM) for comfort and energy efficiency in huge commercial areas. You'll find them as massive ceiling units or powerful pedestal/wall-mounted fans designed for serious air movement, not typical home use, with high CFM ratings (thousands) for effective cooling.
Key Characteristics:
Size & Type: Look for HVLS fans (often 7 feet or more in diameter) or large pedestal/wall fans, not standard residential ceiling fans.
Airflow (CFM): Measured in Cubic Feet per Minute; higher CFM means more air moved, crucial for large spaces (e.g., 7000+ CFM is common).
Applications: Warehouses, factories, gyms, shopping centers, agricultural buildings, and large event spaces.
Benefits: Better air circulation, reduced heat, improved comfort, and energy savings over traditional AC in large buildings.
Where to Find Them:
Home Improvement Stores: The Home Depot offers large industrial ceiling fans.
Online Marketplaces: Alibaba.com has many manufacturers for 7m industrial fans.
Specialty Retailers: Amazon.com (for large pedestal/wall fans) and industrial fan suppliers.
When searching, use terms like "HVLS fan," "industrial ceiling fan," "large commercial fan," or specify CFM and diameter (like 7ft or 7m) for best results
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make a building that can house 1,000 crew is just a multiplier for what needs to be setup for all space requires from power, life support, greenhouse, medical care, ect these are not established for mars or for the moon in there entirety.
Picking any number to support any person is going to fail for any construction when quotative numbers are not proven.
That's like saying you only need 8 gallons of water to drink for the whole mission with none on the other end once you are there.
Ignoring facts of who, what, where, when and more 20 questions are blank.
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