Bio-regenerative Life Support (BLSS) and In Situ
Resource Utilization (ISRU) Development for a Prototype
Inflatable Mars
Surface Habitat
Mars Photo Library - Click
Phil Sadler, Sadler
Machine Co. and Dr. Gene Giacomelli, Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering
This project will develop
innovative means to mine in situ water from Martian permafrost, to
demonstrate a Mars Inflatable Greenhouse, and to demonstrate a water
recycling process using a composter and greenhouse system. The goal
will be to develop, demonstrate, and incorporate these BLSS necessities
into a full scale inflatable Mars base habitat prototype, without the Mars
Lander. Heat rejection from power generation and habitat, along with
harvesting Martian water from permafrost, would be accomplished utilizing
an innovative device called a Thermal Well, which could provide a
revolutionary enabling technology for Mars exploration. The Martian
carbon dioxide rich atmosphere, along with light levels roughly 49% of
what occurs on Earth, would enable the Mars Inflatable Greenhouse to
produce crops, regenerate the existing habitat’s atmosphere, along with
enabling the utilization of the carbon dioxide enriched Martian
atmosphere, and recycling water. The composter would reduce organic
waste and supply water for hydroponic crop production, as part of a
process cycling from waste water, to composter condensate, to greenhouse
condensate, and finally to crew potable water. The prototype Mars
base habitat would be constructed and serve as a NASA Education and Public
Outreach effort, supported and located in Tucson at the University of
Arizona’s headquarters of the Phoenix Mars Mission Project
(2003-08). Upon completion and rigorous testing of the habitat, it
is proposed that the habitat would be utilized as a Mars Base Analog in
the Antarctic Dry Valley area, to support a crew of six researchers
working in the field.
Cooperators: Lane Patterson, ABE
graduate
In Progress 2005
Program with: University
of Vermont, Florida and Ohio
Cooperators: Dr. Gene Giacomelli and
Dr. Chieri Kubota
In Progress 2003 –
2006 |
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