High-Level Project Summary
Our main objective during this project is to find a way to survive in the red planet with the limitations given, establish a human base for future colonization, and find new methods for agriculture. The plan is complex but effective. We will start by designing necessary tools on the 3D printers given, these tools include a hammer, a picaxe, and a shovel, build two similar dome constructions made up from triangular concrete and plastic pieces joined by screws, and make use of wind energy to give power inside our new home. With this effective plan we will achieve a martian community that makes optimal use of their available resources and thrives in this hostile environment.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
The objective of our mission is not only to accomplish survival in the required time but also to be pioneers in the colonization of the red planet and implement of our project for the first constructions in Mars.
Having a metal, a plastic, and a concrete printer we plan to make an impression of the basic tools that we may require, which are: hammer, wrench, shovel, and pickaxe. We can also use the printer to obtain stronger tools.
Two domes and a wind energy generator will be built.
The construction of our domes will be geodesic with some modifications due to the limitations that we have. After reviewing possible models we conclude that the best form of construction is starting with a base made up of 2x1 .73m triangles (this so that each edge measures 2m) with 15 cm of thickness. We will apply the concept of the fractal by using equilateral triangles given that equilateral triangles are the most resistant geometric figure.
After this concrete base, a plastic roof made of smaller triangles would be placed, working with the parameters of the machine. These triangles would be 13x11.034cm (this so that each edge measures 13 cm) with a thickness of 2 cm. They will also include a mounting bracket with holes which are used for assembly along with nuts and screws made by the metal printer. We will repeat this process for the second base and join both domes with the initial habitat using surface tunnels. One dome will be used for living spaces and the other for agriculture; where we will develop plant growth.
Regarding the issue of water scarcity, we can make use of our nasa rovers. They could search for water which can be processed later for plant irrigation, oxygen production and for ourselves.
The last point to analyze is the energy production, nature will be used in our favor. Wind energy will be obtained with our spiral model, this will be built with the union of several small pieces of plastic to a tall tube, this will suply the necessary energy for our future community.
Space Agency Data
We based our project on the mars information published on the NASA website, we consider temperatures, gravity, and all the required information with this reference because we consider it the most accurate with reality. This information inspired our project because we start working considering all possible problems we may face with.
Hackathon Journey
Our Space Apps experience have been excelent, every participant that we've met have been respectful and humble. We have learned how almost everything work in Mars. This have been a really interesting topic to investigate. We didn't knew we were going to work together and we did an amazing job. There was a lot of creativity involved to find solutions.
References
Barluenga Badiola, G. (n.d.). MATERIALES DE CONSTRUCCIÓN. In Universidad De Alcalá. https://portal.uah.es/portal/page/portal/GP_EPD/PG-MA-ASIG/PG-ASIG-32912/TAB42351/Tema%2012%20Materiales%20ETSA.pdf
Bjork, R. (2011, December 31). Hammer 10. GrabCad. https://grabcad.com/library/hammer--10
Inta-Nasa, V. E. D. C. Y. (2022, May 10). InSight de la NASA ha registrado su mayor terremoto en Marte. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.mdscc.nasa.gov/index.php/2022/05/10/insight-de-la-nasa-ha-registrado-su-mayor-terremoto-en-marte/
Mohamed, K. (2021, May 12). Power Screw Acme Threads. GrabCad. https://grabcad.com/library/power-screw-acme-threads-1
Pirateprincess. (n.d.). 3D Printed Wind Spiral. PinShape. https://pinshape.com/items/8886-3d-printed-wind-spiral
Unidad 15. Materiales Poliméricos y Compuestos. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.upv.es/materiales/Fcm/Fcm15/fcm15_4.html
Tags
#Mars #MarsHabitat #3D #3Dprintchallenge #wateronmars #marscolony