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#26 2025-09-24 14:40:06

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,715

Re: Miniature ITV for Mars Flyby and Exploration Missions

40 mt payload content food for a crew of 4 journey.

For a four-person Mars mission, the food tonnage would be between 6.6 and 15 tons, depending on the total mission duration and whether resupply missions or local food production are used. The total mass includes the food itself plus the necessary packaging. Key factors influencing food tonnage Mission duration 

A Mars mission is typically estimated to be a round trip of 2 to 3 years, with a stay on the Martian surface. The total mass of food required is a direct product of the mission length. 

Average daily mass:
A standard estimate for space food is about 1.83 kg (4 lbs) per astronaut per day.Total food mass calculation: Assuming a 2.5-year (912.5-day) mission, the total food tonnage for four astronauts would be calculated as follows:
1.83 kg/person/day * 912.5 days * 4 astronauts =6,680 kg
This equals about 6.7 metric tons.

Mission architecture 
The overall mission plan significantly affects the food tonnage that must be launched from Earth. 

All prepackaged:
If all food is launched from Earth, the tonnage would be at the high end of the estimate, especially if extra supplies are included for safety margins or emergencies. Some proposals suggest sending supply caches to Mars ahead of the crew.

Partial local production:
Integrating local food production, such as growing crops in a Martian habitat, could dramatically reduce the amount of food that needs to be carried. A diet supplemented with fresh vegetables and other produce could significantly lower the initial launch mass. 

Food type 
The composition of the food is a critical variable. Freeze-dried vs. whole food: Freeze-dried or dehydrated food contains much less water, making it far lighter to transport than whole food.Packaging: Packaging, while individually light, adds up over the course of a multi-year mission. Innovations in lighter, more efficient packaging could contribute to reducing overall tonnage. Contingency supplies Mission planners must also account for potential issues and emergencies. 

Buffer stock: A contingency supply of food is often included to cover mission extensions or unforeseen problems, adding significant mass to the total payload. For a 4-person, 900-day mission, a 500-day contingency supply could add over 10 tons of mass. 

Example calculation 
Here is a breakdown of a potential scenario for a four-person, 2.5-year (913-day) Mars mission. Daily food intake per person: 1.83 kg

Total crew-days:4 people * 913 days=3,652 person-days
Total food mass: 3,652 person-days * 1.83 kg/person/day=6,698 kg
Base food tonnage: Approximately 6.7 metric ton

Perishable food items are foods that will spoil, decay, or become unsafe to eat if not kept refrigerated or frozen, including meats, poultry, seafood, dairy products, eggs, cooked leftovers, and most fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those that are cut, chopped, or lack a hard outer skin.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish
Raw meats: such as ground beef, steaks, lamb, and pork.
Poultry, like fresh chicken, turkey, and duck.
Fish and seafood, including fresh fish, shrimp, lobster, and all types of shellfish.
Deli meats, which are processed and sliced.
Dairy and Eggs
Milk, cream, and yogurt.
Cheese, including soft and hard varieties.
Butter .
Eggs .
Fruits and Vegetables
Most fresh fruits and vegetables are perishable, particularly those without a hard skin like berries, tomatoes, and lettuce.
Cut or chopped produce, as this increases the rate of decay.
Cooked Foods and Leftovers
Any cooked leftovers, such as stews, cooked rice, and prepared meals.
Prepared salads: and other dishes containing perishable ingredients.
Other Perishables
Drinks with live bacteria, like some juices.
Sauces and dips: (like hummus, pesto, and sour cream), once opened.
Some baked goods, especially those with dairy or cream.

Non-perishable food items are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration, including canned goods (fruits, vegetables, meats, soups, beans), dried goods (rice, pasta, oats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, jerky, dried beans), shelf-stable milk and juices, and pantry staples like peanut butter, honey, cooking oil, sugar, and crackers.
Canned & Pouched Foods
Proteins: Tuna, salmon, chicken, and beans.
Vegetables: Corn, green beans, carrots, and other vegetables.
Fruits: Peaches, pineapple, applesauce, and other fruits.
Soups & Stews: Meat-based, vegetable-based, and other ready-to-eat options.
Dried & Grains
Grains: Rice, oats, pasta, and couscous.
Legumes: Dried beans, lentils, and peas.
Snacks: Nuts, seeds, dried fruits (raisins, apricots), trail mix, jerky, and granola bars.
Pantry Staples
Spreads: Peanut butter, jelly, and other nut/seed butters.
Sweeteners & Sauces: Honey, sugar, syrup, and jarred pasta sauces.
Oils: Vegetable oil and other cooking oils.
Baking Ingredients: Pancake mix and powdered milk.
Beverages: Shelf-stable powdered milk, bottled water, and juice boxes.
Other Shelf-Stable Items Crackers and melba toast, Ready-to-eat meals (like MREs), and Hard candies

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#27 2025-09-24 14:44:18

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,715

Re: Miniature ITV for Mars Flyby and Exploration Missions

For a four-person Mars crew, the total water tonnage required would be around 23 tons for a 30-month mission, based on advanced recycling technology with a 98% recovery rate. The actual tonnage could be significantly higher without such systems. 

The total mass for a Mars mission is determined by several factors: 
Mission duration:
A typical round trip to Mars, including time on the surface, is estimated to last 32 to 38 months, or about 1,000 to 1,140 days.

Water recycling efficiency:
Modern systems, like the one on the International Space Station (ISS), can recycle over 98% of the water from astronaut breath, sweat, and urine.

Water requirements per person:
An astronaut needs approximately 1 gallon (3.8 kg) of water per day for drinking, food preparation, and hygiene. Water tonnage calculation Using the approximate 32-month (960-day) mission duration, here is the breakdown of the water tonnage for a four-person crew: 

1. Calculate the gross water requirement Daily consumption per person: 3.8 kg.Total daily consumption (4 crew): 3.8 kg * 4=15.2 kg Gross mission total: 15.2 kg/day * 960 days=14,592 kg. 

2. Factor in water recycling Total water recycled (98%): 14,592 kg * 0.98=14,290.1 kg.
Makeup water needed: 14,592 kg -14,290.1 kg =301.9 kg. 

This figure (301.9 kg) represents only the water needed to replace what is lost from the recycling system, but does not include the initial supply for the journey itself. 

3. Determine the initial water supplyThe total tonnage launched from Earth would need to cover the water lost through recycling, provide a safety reserve for emergencies, and possibly function as a radiation shield during the deep-space transit. A more comprehensive NASA estimate calculates total requirements, including water for food production and other needs. For a four-person, 500-day mission, one estimate puts the total water mass at 3,450 kg (about 3.5 tons) with closed-loop systems. Scaling this figure to a 32-month mission gives us a more realistic total. 

NASA 500-day estimate: 3.5 tons for 4 crew.Annualized NASA estimate: 3.5 tons * (365/500)=2.56 tons/year
32-month mission estimate: 2.56 tons/year * (32/12)=6.83 tons. The critical role of water for a crewed Mars mission The wide range of water tonnage estimates highlights the complexity of mission planning. 
Radiation shielding: Because water is an effective material for blocking space radiation, some mission designs include launching extra water from Earth to serve as radiation shielding during the transit to Mars.

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU):
To significantly reduce launch mass, future missions will rely on ISRU to create water and fuel from Martian resources.Mass trade-offs: A mission might carry more water from Earth as a backup, or rely on ISRU, which requires more complex equipment and energy. Based on these considerations, a modern Mars mission would launch with an initial water tonnage in the single-digit range, supplemented by highly efficient recycling systems. The total mass that must be accounted for over the full mission lifetime, however, would be closer to the 23-ton figure, with most of it being continuously recycled.

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