Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

Algol · 2004-06-29 05:18:13

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/natu … stm]Design wanted for Antarctic base

DERF · 2004-06-29 14:12:37

Holy Crap!

M. A(ntartic). R. S.? We should definitely try to get our fingers into this. Maybe it could be a test-venue for new techniques of construction/habitation suitable for Mars.

Grypd · 2004-06-29 17:00:40

YES we should

My personal idea is to try out inflatable structures.

DERF · 2004-06-29 23:00:39

Particularily in the cold weather, which I suppose is sort of obvious.

Too bad that Antartica doesn't have the low pressure that Mars has (for feasability tests).

They have done a greenhouse already http://www.antarctichydroponics.com]here.
That is pretty impressive. I would love to see them expand that, particularily with lots of our help.

Rxke · 2004-06-29 23:44:26

Any gifted architcts around here (at least one, as far as i know...)

Remember: *no* underground structures, they didn't like that, in the past bases, they had to climb down, live like gnomes etc...

Rxke · 2004-06-29 23:46:35

BTW, article on Slashdot, with more links. Required reading.

And a lot of feedback (of course most of it stupid, as usual)

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl? … e.slashdot

MarsDog · 2004-06-30 08:34:54

There are more buildings inside the Arctic Circle than in Antarctica.
Cold desert like places, in the North, are closer to Martian conditions.
-
I would go with modular structures, similar to shipping containers.

TwinBeam · 2004-06-30 14:31:02

Instead of trying to raise the station in place, maybe just build the bottom in an inverted wedge shape. When it gets buried a bit, slide it to one side using a winch and anchor system, up the ramp of snow that will have built up under it, and shove snow in behind it to hold it in its new position.

Follow the "local resources" approach - build what you can out of ice/snow. The main thing might be windbreaks. With those in place, a multi-walled tent might be sufficient for the walls of the structure. The need to support snow accumulation probably means the structural supports and roof must be solid. Note that on the south side you could probably just put up a tent-like wall, and let snow accumulate behind it due to the wind - a giant snow drift build using the local wind-energy resource. Move the wall to the top of the drift (and back a bit from the edge) to build the drift higher.

Since the winds are mostly from the southeast, and the sun will be mostly to the north, maybe use a high windbreak on the south side that can reflect in extra light during the darker (non-night) months. More to save on lighting than anything else.

smurf975 · 2004-07-01 14:33:30

Some thing like http://www.icehotel-canada.com/en/index.en.php]this could be cool.

Its made out of snow and ice and you will not pollute antartica with any building materials. Also easy to dumb and move on.

DERF · 2004-07-02 08:32:23

Wow imagine an ice hotel on Mars! Cool and low G's. Perfect honeymoon (if you don't mind a 2 years honeymoon that is).

Unfortunately, I think they want a building that lasts..all year for Antartica. Is there some Mars Society Director of Projects or something that is supposed to be in charge of this?

smurf975 · 2004-07-02 09:35:45

As I get it ice never melts on Antartica. Well if you're not to close to the cost.

John Creighton · 2004-07-02 09:54:57

I don’t know why they just can’t move the current structure. Maybe all future structures should be built with treads underneath them. Kind of like that giant vehicle that moves the space shuttle. Anyway, shouldn’t Antarctica be someone what similar to the Martian south pole.

MarsDog · 2004-07-02 14:10:32

http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2 … ml]Hobotat

Just use the same concept for Earth, Moon, and Mars.
Who knows how large it could become ?

RobS · 2004-07-02 20:07:50

A base for 50 people must weigh over 100 tonnes, so I doubt moving it is practical. The weight will tend to cause the structure to sink into the ice somewhat and freeze into place. Ice flows under pressure; that's why glaciers move. The same principle will cause structures on top of ice to sink into it over time.

That would be less true at the Martian poles, by the way, because the plasticity of ice decreases with temperature, and the Martian poles are COLD. On the Galilean moons, ice flows very slowly indeed; that is why craters exist after millions of years.

-- RobS

trentsta · 2004-10-23 07:11:28

In this situation a large single structure would be difficult to support, maintain and manouvre. a number of smaller 'modules' would be much more practical, with the ability to split into separate convoys if needed, similar to wagon trains. these modules could be specialised with columns containing all the elements of self sufficiency, with teams who specialise in particular disciplines, allowing research to be conducted on specialised areas, and the flexibility to meet up to share results & pool resources when necessary....

martian gypsies?

SpaceNut · 2004-10-25 06:03:31

Trentsta: you are right in thinking smaller modules but the problem is still with making each mobile in some form, either by using a single module mover or even by the total unit mover the same would be true because of the ice.

If this were Mars that would be also a necessity to make them smaller for how would you be able to land them intact.

I am not sure why the mobitat link does not work but go to this one and at the bottom of the page is the mobitat link.

http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2004/04_64AR.html

srmeaney · 2005-03-19 07:15:57

A modular base. Each module it's own Hovercraft the size of the hovercrafts that plied the English Channel. Designed to sit on a bag of hot air and to lock together into a larger Station. THis allows for the Layout to be changed every so often so the crews dont go nuts. Basicly the Kitchen/restraunt doesnt have to be through the doors on the right. Of course you must keep an eye open for smartipants who move things about during the night.

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#1 2004-06-29 05:18:13

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#2 2004-06-29 14:12:37

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#3 2004-06-29 17:00:40

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#4 2004-06-29 23:00:39

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#5 2004-06-29 23:44:26

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#6 2004-06-29 23:46:35

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#7 2004-06-30 08:34:54

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#8 2004-06-30 14:31:02

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#9 2004-07-01 14:33:30

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#10 2004-07-02 08:32:23

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#11 2004-07-02 09:35:45

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#12 2004-07-02 09:54:57

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#13 2004-07-02 14:10:32

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#14 2004-07-02 20:07:50

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#15 2004-10-23 07:11:28

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#16 2004-10-25 06:03:31

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

#17 2005-03-19 07:15:57

Re: Design wanted for Antarctic base - Mars colony? Anyone?

Board footer