New Habitat design
(A brief review of possible [and real] Mars base designs)
Hyper suggested that we should move-out to the next stage of game developement where there will be one base Habitat instead of many, like we have now.
I have prepared this brief reviev of possible base looks that was proposed eather by NASA or ESA.
Please study those desighns, becouse every-one of them were planned thoroughly and they contain some SUPER ideas of their own!
On the very end I will present you the design plans of a Base Habitat I think we should place in MCO.
If you are in a hurry, and don't want to read all of this - just skip to the last part.
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The Base (Habitat) look and general design will differ from the stage of Mars exploration by humans we consider.
The FIRST stage is also the first man landing on the Mars scenario.
This is the most "primitive" base that has limited resources and operating possibilities.
This base is basicaly the ship that has landed on the surface and
has 2 peeple on-board / 2 other are inside the Orbiter or
4 peeple on surface / 0 on Orbiter or
6 peeple on surface / 0 on Orbiter
(it depends on which model you use: Mars Direct, Mars Semi-Direct or other).
(http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5325/marsbase3.jpg)
(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9497/marsbase1.jpg)
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5241/marsbase2.jpg)
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2899/marsbase4.jpg)
And here comes the cool part. You can explore this base on your own. Just click here ---> http://www.exploremarsnow.org (http://www.exploremarsnow.org)
The basic function of this base is to prove that landing on Mars is possible
and to test the new technologies used for it (some of them might need
to be changed totally and rebuilded from scratch). One of the technologies developed would be the Greenhouse.
If all goes well, this mission and technologies used for this base will be the example for future Mars landings.
We don't know how many of those Habitats will land on Mars, or if they are goying to be the same.
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Here we have another (NEW!) alternative for the first base on Mars.
(http://www.reeves-stevens.com/crewandhab.jpg)
This is a screen-shoot from the Decumental Movie "Race to Mars".
(http://i65.servimg.com/u/f65/15/25/83/57/1220.jpg)
It's a series of 5 DVD movies that was made to answer how would
the first mission to Mars look like i real.
How would the base look? How will they get there?
What dangers awaits them on the surface, etc...
(http://www.reeves-stevens.com/crewandrover.jpg)
This concept is the newest, and is the most propable at this time.
(http://www.fictionscience.com/images/racetomars/RaceToMars01.jpg)
(http://www.fictionscience.com/images/racetomars/RaceToMars02.jpg)
(http://www.fictionscience.com/images/racetomars/RaceToMars04.jpg)
As you see - The Habitat looks like the base from Mars Colony Surveyour.
It was delivered there before peeple even started from Earth on entirely different rocket.
It contains 1 Rover and a Nuclear Reactor. In the movie they show the interior of that base.
(http://www.letual.ca/gallery_images/matte-art.jpg)
For more information simply see the Movie. They have some great ideas.
Trailer ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeKAzKbcEgA&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeKAzKbcEgA&feature=player_embedded)
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The SECOND stage, is when you basically have the experience from the first flight to Mars.
They will send a bigger Habitat Base to Mars, that would enable larger-scale exploration to the nearest terrains.
This kind of base has the abbility to GROW AND EXPAND. Every mission Earth will send new modules that would aid the main HUB.
Mars Colony: DEMO was exactly that.
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1908/erv.png) (http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4024/cohab.png)
(http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7584/farmunit.png) (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/7333/mistwopic.jpg)
(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7727/misthreepic.jpg)
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Here you can see a screen shot from another game:
(http://salotti.pagesperso-orange.fr/jeudestinationmars1.jpg)
As you can see - this base is set into modules.
Depending on what kind of flight concept you pick (Mars Direct, Mars Semi-Direct, etc.)
on start you will have different modules, that you can pick.
Usually you start with a HABITAT BASE, NUCLEAR REACTOR and MAV (Mars Ascend Vehicle), that makes fuel with Sebatier reaction (just like ERV in demo).
Next step for you is to explore your surrounding. You should find resources using GPR radar and drill or find large rocks thats made out of one mineral.
You can either create a new module if you have enough resources to build it in the workshop, or wait 1,5 year and ask Earth to deliver it in the next mission.
Insted of building large HUB you build other modules nearby.
This game consept as old-visualized as it looks is still very possible.
It's called "MARSBASE: THE SIMULATOR OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON MARS" or shorter "marsbase5_2".
If you want to play play this game for free, click here ---> http://salotti.pagesperso-orange.fr/marsbase.htm (http://salotti.pagesperso-orange.fr/marsbase.htm)
I reely advise you to download the game and at least see how it looks.
Why? This game as crude as it looks (and plays :)) has a complete database on "Transformation Tree".
In other words: just by reeding the manual you will know every reaction and equipement needed for ISRU activity on Mars.
You will know for instance how to make fertilizer from raw ore, or how to make plastic, Photo-Voltanic Cells, mirrors,
steel etc. and how to make equipement from all of that. You will also see the big list of things you will need to take with you.
See for yourself: ---> http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8418/marsdirect2.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8418/marsdirect2.jpg)
---> http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5299/marsdirect3.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5299/marsdirect3.jpg)
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For this stage NASA has designed her own plans for a Base. This project was called "NASA Design Reference Mission 3.0".
(http://citizenx.org/wp-content/mars_base.jpg)
This is most-likely how the base after the first landing on Mars will look like.
Note that all 3 Habitats in this stage looks the same, and are lifted above the ground.
That's becouse this is physicly the best solution for many technical difficoulties, like the Martian dust. Also note that Polar bases have the same solution:
(http://images.spaceref.com/news/2009/ooNMIII_NW_ucieluch_p.jpg)
Becouse this is an official NASA project, you can easily find information about it.
For instance...wikipedia ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Design_Reference_Mission_3.0 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Design_Reference_Mission_3.0)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Mars_design_reference_mission_3.jpg/757px-Mars_design_reference_mission_3.jpg)
I was unable to find any images from the interior of those bases of the 2-nd stage.
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FINALLY.....the THIRD stage.
(http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/456/misonepic.jpg)
This stage comes when you try to build on Mars a base that would be self-sufficient for a long time (2-10 years).
This base is desired when peeple starts wide-scale exploration of Mars (Which we do in MCO!).
The goal of this kind of bases is to find and process ores for resources, build items, develop technologies,
study Mars geology, search for life, explore far-away terrains (even up-to 2000 km!) build new Habitats,
protect the astronauts from solar flares, etc.........so basicaly.........prepare MARS for colonisation,
terraformation and building first cities. As i said before: this is the stage which we are now testing in Mars Colony Online.
I have the greate pride to tell you that I have indeed find a perfect and detailed plans for a possible new base in Mars Colony.
A base that would be in-fact better than those scattered bases we have now for testing purposes.
A base that is already beeing builded on Earth for study.
I reely hope you like it as much as I do. So here it is....
(http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1251/marsbasefinal.jpg)
You can watch it in 3-D [HD] here ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVdUkqnnyjU&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVdUkqnnyjU&feature=player_embedded)
(http://www.mars24.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/z6991292X2.jpg)
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_bergamo_2009/janek_bergamo_2009-1.jpg)
(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6294/kozickicospar2008marsba.jpg)
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-05.jpg)
The base can be divided into three zones and an entrance/communication routes.
- the rest area with private cabins and a kitchen
- the Biological Life Support System (BLSS) - which is mainly the agriculture
- and the work area with workshop and laboratories
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-09.jpg)
So this is the selected solution, and for each function: agriculture, work and rest there is a different area dedicated.
The biggest dome, 24 meters in diameter contains agriculture as the crops require lot of space.
There are two large windows, because plants need sunlight.
The residential dome is 20 meters in diameter and the laboratory dome is 16 meters in diameter.
In each of them there is a window as sunlight is very comforting for people.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-10.jpg)
This is how it will be oriented towards the cardinal points and the Sun, so the agriculture gets most of the sunlight.
The yellow arrows represent rays from the Sun.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-11.jpg)
There are two entrances to the base (in the central module), they are both adapted for docking a vehicle with people,
so they can enter the vehicle without the suits. The communication routes spread form the central module to whole base,
through the elastic sleeves and then around the perimeter of each dome. Also the vehicle has easy access to the garage.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-12.jpg)
The central module has three floors.
If we have a look closer at the zero level we will see that near to the entrance there are the locks with
Martian Space Suits and a first aid point as well as a toilet.
The interesting thing about the zero floor in central module is that during the transportation all those three
inflatable domes are packed here in this corridor, and they will inflate out to get to the final shape.
On the first level there is a radiation shelter to hide in during a solar storm. It is protected by two meters of
water (the water tanks around the perimeter of the first floor), which are a part of the base
Life Support System (LSS) and is also protected by a thicker ceiling.
On the top there is a communications and a control room, the Life Support System filters, and possibly an engine room.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-13.jpg)
In the residential dome there are eight private cabins, they can be arranged in arbitrary order
(alternative arrangements are shown on the left), because pneumatic walls are attached to the
floor an each other with zip fasteners. More about those walls later.
Also there is a gym, the kitchen with cold storerooms, a recreational and meeting area.
And there is a communication corridor around the perimeter.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-14.jpg)
In the work area you have several laboratories, connected with a workshop that can be used to
fix the vehicle or the laboratory equipment, and there is a connection with garage.
Also there is an ambulatory just in front of the entrance from the central module, so in case of
the emergency this is shortest entrance path, either from the outside or from the docked vehicle.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-15.jpg)
In the agriculture dome there is a robot that can autonomously take care of crops, there are storerooms
for seeds and other equipment, there is a chlorella basin for oxygen generation. And a water evaporation basin,
so that the humidity collectors can extract a clean water for the LSS. There is also a small recreational area.
And a bumblebee hive for pollination of flowers. And a special equipment for exchanging a sterile soil with the outside.
(http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010/janek_cospar2010-33.jpg)
As said in the last slide: you can see the rest at ---> http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010.php (http://janek.kozicki.pl/janek_cospar2010.php)
There you can also find the calculation for power, water, heat, material cycles, surface values etc..
Hyper asqued me to start a topic here to see what you all think about that idea.
So what about it guys? What do you think about that last Habitat Base?