High-Level Project Summary
M.S.H is a team how worked on outfitting a Mars habitat. Using 3 3D printers, we developed furniture, tools and items that will help the astronaut to live and work on Mars for a year. We used the plastic printer heavily since it produces large number of tools with the correct size to fit the habitat. Most the tools and items were developed using the 3 printers and parts were connected. We focused on vital items to ease the mission and overcome any difficulties. Start from building a concrete wall to support and protect the habitat. Then we used the same wall as mini gym, circular garden, and connection to recycle. Other tools were developed such as bed, chairs, sampling tubes and much more.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
Our main aim was to develop tools and items to help astronauts to live for one year on Mars. We had limited resources and our main depend on three 3D printers which prints plastic, metal, and concrete. The main challenge to utilize all three printers to create items to fit the habitat.
To solve this challenge, we were inspired by plant cells, so we decided to build a circular concrete wall around the house to protect it from storms and meteors that might occur on Mars. Also, we made a door between the concrete wall and the alter area of Mars so some we astronauts can go and out throw it. What’s more, a circular garden was constructed out of plastic to fill the space between the concrete wall and the house along with a pipe that collects oxygen from the plants so it can be fill the can connected to the wall. This process will help in breaking down and recycling the plastic. In the same wall, a heating system was created using an electrical circuit made of wires, batteries and light taken from the landing craft. This system is very important to raise the temperature because mars is extremely cold.
On important issue was that one wheel was broken during the lading. So, using metal chains we fixed and supported the old wheel along with creating a new one. The new wheel was created from multiple layers of plastic, sand, and rocks.
It is essential for astronauts to exercise every day to maintain their health because being in space causes them to lose 20% of their muscle mass. That’s why, a running track was created between the concrete wall and the house. So, the astronaut is going to exercise by using the dumbbells that filled with water, oil , sand, and rocks, Moreover, we made a strain pipe connected by the toilet to make soil for the plants made from the human waste so the plants can be rich with minerals
Several tools and furniture were created using the same material. To manage the size, separate parts were created first that they were connected to be used. To start with, a multifunctional bed with an adjustable system ,looks like a wave, that supports the back and the body. It was made from plastic and tiny pieces of metal. The same heating system was used again and connected to the bed. Also, using multiple layers of plastic, a multi-functional chair was created to be used as chair, table, and storage units.
Through the process, we take into consideration the importance of the astronaut mental health. That’s why, we created a stress relieve net make of plastic and metal nails organized as a net. The astronaut may step up on this net and press down to relief himself.
Finally, several tools were made to be used fix items and collecting study samples. For example, we made a multifunctional fork that could be as a spoon at the same time and shovel. Regarding sample collecting, a sample design that was inspired by a molecule in the plant cell made from tiny pieces of metal and plastic.
Space Agency Data
Different NASA resources were used to collect data and understand the nature of Mars. We explore the resources to figure out what tools to create. Also, the 3D media resources were very useful to help us to imagine tools and items to be created in our project. The following links are the main NASA resources were used on M.S.H project:
https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/models
https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/media
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20200001427/downloads/20200001427.pdf
Hackathon Journey
Our experience in the hackathon challenge was very useful and enjoyable. We learned from this challenge a lot of modern and imaginary information related to space, and we were able to innovate and find creative solutions to live on Mars at the lowest costs. The source of our inspiration for choosing this challenge is the plant cell. We developed the idea by creating a model for all the tools and equipment that simulates the members of the cell. We overcome many challenges and setbacks, such as designing furniture with the simplest capabilities and raw materials such as metal and plastic, and we were able to integrate all the tools into one practical framework. Finally, we would like to thank NASA and Bahrain Polytechnic University for this most wonderful opportunity for innovation and development in space sciences.
References
Tags
#mars #asturant #space #3D #printers