Mars Frontier Novel - New web location

RobS · 2004-07-24 15:50:28

The website with the novel also has the latest version of Mars 24:

http://rsmd.net/MarsFrontier/mars24.htm … mars24.htm

The novel actually uses a variation of Mars-24 for dramatic purposes. For example, Mars-24 sends one vehicle with 4 crew to Mars, but the novel sends two vehicles with three each (so they can provide backup to each other, and because I think a novel works better with six characters). The hab on the Martian surface is smaller in Mars 24, also; 10 meters in diameter rather than 12 in the novel. But otherwise it's basically the same.

-- RobS

RobS · 2004-07-30 08:37:12

I just posted chapters 7 and 8 to volume three of the novel.

-- RobS

RobS · 2004-08-14 01:23:02

I just added chapters 9, 10 and 11 to volume 3:

http://www.rsmd.net/MarsFrontier/3/]htt … rontier/3/

I also updated the text of a few chapters to make clear that solar ion tugs are switching from xenon to argon propellant soon.

Enjoy!

-- RobS

Ian Flint · 2004-08-16 09:19:49

Great novel!

I can't wait to see what happens next!

RobS · 2004-08-17 09:06:13

I just posted chapters 12, 13, and 14. I'm going to speed up the rate of posting; I ahve a long way to go to catch up.

-- RobS

Rxke · 2004-08-17 11:46:10

Yippe!

(In fact, I don't really should have time to read it, but will do it anyway, heh)

Ian Flint · 2004-08-26 07:47:55

I'm going to speed up the rate of posting

Yeah, sure...

Your heartless...teasing us with a few chapters every few weeks...heartless. :bars2:

Rxke · 2004-08-26 08:06:19

If you're really desperate, you could always hire a skript-kiddy to hack into Robert's computer, heehee...

(This is a very dirty trick to scare you to "publish or perish," Robert, grin...)

RobS · 2004-08-27 22:47:04

Sorry! I just put up two more chapters, 15 and 16, and the volume only has two more after that. I'll try to get them up in less than a week.

I've also been going over the text and making major revisions to hardware, then going back and fixing the text to match. I hope to upload a new version of all three volumes soon, with a summary of the changes.

Then on to volume 4. . . .

-- RobS

Rxke · 2004-08-28 13:08:14

Robert, I'm not kidding, but from which point should the 'real' fan have to consider to re-read your chapters? You upgrade them, but are these major revisions or minor, like your Mars24 plan, which is at 5.0... you could start using 'point' upgrades, 1.1, 1.2, 1.2.1 etc... So if you post Version 2.00 people would know: major new technology, etc...

What did I say? "I'm not kidding," after re-reading I think I maybe not be kidding, but surely I'm talking nonsense...

Rxke · 2004-08-29 02:13:11

Robert, 'bout the duricrete outgassing and being plasicified(sp??) because not 100% airtight...

Remember Biosphere 2? They found out the concrete used in the habitat absorbed (reacted with) oxygen, but only after awhile they figured that out... Their oxy-levels kept ddropping, and no-one knew why. Lots of extremely tired people...

RobS · 2004-08-29 08:07:44

I'll have to look for that reference; what chapter? I should probably add a reference to them watching their duricrete walls for long-term problems. I don't care if the walls take up a few tonnes of oxygen in a chemical reaction. It would occur very slowly. It takes something like five kilowatt hours to make a kilogram of oxygen from CO2, and their plants make more than they can breathe anyway (because of the stems and inedible parts of the plants, which can be thrown away if they have to).

More generally, as they start to haul literally thousands of tonnes of processed regolith inside to serve as soil for plants, they will have hydration and oxidation processes going on that will remove water and oxygen from the system. I didn't think of that problem.

You also asked about the changes in the novel. When I post the new text I'll list the changes in the announcement. None of them effect the plot, just the details. The "Ihabs" or interplanetary habitats are now "ITVs" or Interplanetary transit vehicles. I like that term better; it is used by the Internatinal Academy of Astronautics report on a Moon-Mars program. The sunwings are changing mass and design slightly; based on Zubrin's presentation at the Mars Society convention last weekend, they now have heated carbon dioxide rockets for vertical takeoff and landing. The reactors are a different mass. The solar power units put out slightly different amounts of power and have less mass (I found a technical paper with better numbers). These aer the sorts of changes I've been making.

I'll try to get the last two chapters orf volume 3 up today or tomorrow.

-- RobS

Rxke · 2004-08-29 08:21:30

I had the Dutch version, and sold it, some time ago (student in need of money, heh...) so no reference....

Of course, it was slow, and Mars has enough oxy etc... But sometimes the devil is in the details, assume they install a low-power oxy generator that didn't take this extra loss in account...

RobS · 2004-08-30 00:07:38

I just put up chapters 17 and 18, the last two in volume three. I will now go back to update the earlier chapters in the three volumes, then turn to volume 4 in about a week or so.

-- RobS

RobS · 2004-08-30 00:56:39

Aw, what the heck! I just put up chapter 1 of volume 4 as well. Note I have put up links to all eleven chapters, but the links for chapters 2 and higher are dead until I add the chapters.

-- RobS

Ian Flint · 2004-08-30 07:44:28

Rob,
As you may have heard in another thread, I am the resident breast expert! Breastfeeding that is.

I noticed that when Ethel stopped breastfeeding to take her anti-depressants, a couple months later she just started nursing again like nothing had happened. Since you're revising things you might want to let us know how she kept her milk supply up. Also, the 'unbalanced formula' that Madhu made before the third crew arrived would also have dried up Ethel's milk. (That's why formula companies give out free samples. :;): )

RobS · 2004-08-31 00:51:24

Dear Ian:

You make good points. I think I was assuming at the later date that Ethel was not providing a lot of breast milk, just supplementing the baby's nutrition. I was assuming the same when she had post-partum depression, also, which could depress milk output. How much can breast milk output recover from a period of little or no breast feeding? I don't know much about that.

-- RobS (who just fed his adopted 11 month old 4 ounces of "Parent's Chouce with iron" baby formula not half an hour ago)

Ian Flint · 2004-08-31 12:16:18

I am not sure how well the milk supply can recover after an extended period of inactivity. I'm pretty sure that it can recover fully, but many uninformed mothers don't realize this and just stick with formula. I do know for sure that simply using a pump or even hand expressing will help keep a mother's supply up if the baby can't breastfeed for whatever reason. The breasts will only produce milk if they are being stimulated by sucking or pumping. The higher the baby's demand the more milk is produced and vice versa.

Here's a link -- http://www.lalecheleague.org/]http://ww … eague.org/

By the way, as I'm sure you have heard, "Breast is Best." The real truth is that formula is a "distant second best." But that isn't quite so catchy, is it?

Since your baby is adopted your options are limited, of course, but there are milk banks out there where human milk is sold. Here's the ironic part -- you need a prescription to buy human milk, but formula is considered a grocery item! That's like putting prescription drugs out on the store shelves and going to the pharmacist to buy a gallon of milk.

RobS · 2004-09-07 14:08:29

I was at a conference over the Labor Day weekend (Association for Baha'i Studies annual meeting, Calgary, Albera) and in between sessions I was able to proofread all of volume 4 (which is short). I'll try to get it up a few chapters at a time over the next two weeks.

-- RobS

Rxke · 2004-09-07 15:57:17

Phew!

Got a topic notification, just before I am about to go to bed... In less than six hours have to get up, doing an introductory talk for new students (shudder) and for a sec I was afraid you had posted a gazillion chapters... Which I would of course *had to* read before sleeping

First time ever I'm glad you didn't put up new chapters, heehee...

RobS · 2004-09-07 19:52:47

Well, three chapters are up now! Chapters 2-4. I have 5-11 ready and will put them up in pairs every day or two or three.

http://rsmd.net/MarsFrontier]http://rsm … rsFrontier

-- RobS

Rxke · 2004-09-07 22:29:43

Ackgh! In 10 minutes I have to go and catch a train!

Must...Resist...Must...get...on...train...

RobS · 2004-09-10 14:21:05

I've just posted chapters 5 and 6. Will put up two more over the weekend.

-- RobS

Ian Flint · 2004-09-10 14:57:44

Rob,

You rock!

I shall now devour these chapters like the Cookie Monster.

RobS · 2004-09-12 16:18:57

I just put up chapters 7 and 8. Only three more to go; I'll put them up Tuesday or Wednesday.

-- RobS

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Re: Mars Frontier Novel - New web location

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#64 2004-08-30 00:07:38

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#65 2004-08-30 00:56:39

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#66 2004-08-30 07:44:28

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#67 2004-08-31 00:51:24

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#68 2004-08-31 12:16:18

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#69 2004-09-07 14:08:29

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#70 2004-09-07 15:57:17

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#71 2004-09-07 19:52:47

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#75 2004-09-12 16:18:57

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