Reconnaissance on MarsReconnaissance on Mars

Creation of a Mars HangarCreation of a Mars Hangar

S. Andrew Ning, Krystle Farnsworth, Rob Gillis, Brian Riddle, David Allred

Mars ExplorationMars ExplorationAssemble and repair machinery: airplanes, Assemble and repair machinery: airplanes,

ATVs, roversATVs, rovers Imagine doing that work in a Full Pressure Imagine doing that work in a Full Pressure

SuitSuit

Creation of an Intermediate Creation of an Intermediate EnvironmentEnvironment

Allows design of a suit with greater Allows design of a suit with greater mobility, dexterity, and visibilitymobility, dexterity, and visibility

Mars Homestead Project @ M.I.T.

95% CO95% CO22, 2.7% N, 2.7% N22, , 1.8% Ar, .13% 1.8% Ar, .13% OO22, .07% CO, .07% CO

Surface pressure is Surface pressure is approximate 6-7 approximate 6-7 millibarsmillibars

Average Temperature Average Temperature = -55= -55°°CC

78% N78% N22, 21%O, 21%O22, .9% , .9% Ar, .03% COAr, .03% CO22

Surface pressure is Surface pressure is about 1.01 barabout 1.01 bar

Average Surface Average Surface Temperature = 15Temperature = 15°°CC

Biological ConcernsBiological ConcernsMars has insufficient oxygen (Gas Mars has insufficient oxygen (Gas

Composition)Composition)Mars has insufficient vapor pressure Mars has insufficient vapor pressure

(Pressure Regulation)(Pressure Regulation)Mars is too cold (Temperature Regulation)Mars is too cold (Temperature Regulation)

Solution: Space SuitsSolution: Space Suits Full Pressure Suits (FPS) used in Full Pressure Suits (FPS) used in

past NASA explorations protect past NASA explorations protect against thin atmospheres, low against thin atmospheres, low pressures and cold temperaturespressures and cold temperatures

Ideal PressureIdeal PressureLower pressure decreases fatigue and Lower pressure decreases fatigue and

increases productivity. Especially gloved increases productivity. Especially gloved hand fatigue.hand fatigue.

Too low of pressure presents risk of Too low of pressure presents risk of hypoxia. Need to maintain sufficient hypoxia. Need to maintain sufficient partial pressure of oxygen in lung alveoli.partial pressure of oxygen in lung alveoli.

Too high of pressure presents risk of Too high of pressure presents risk of oxygen toxicity.oxygen toxicity.

Mixed Gas CompositionMixed Gas Composition

One approach to avoid oxygen toxicity and One approach to avoid oxygen toxicity and flammability hazards is to use a mixed gas flammability hazards is to use a mixed gas suitsuit

Drawbacks: Drawbacks: More expensive to continually monitor both More expensive to continually monitor both

oxygen and nitrogen partial pressureoxygen and nitrogen partial pressure Adds weight and volumeAdds weight and volume Increases risk for decompression sicknessIncreases risk for decompression sickness

Other ProblemsOther Problems How do we do heavy duty work? How do we do heavy duty work?

These Full Pressure Suits (FPS) These Full Pressure Suits (FPS) lack dexterity, mobility, visibility, lack dexterity, mobility, visibility, and are high in energy cost.and are high in energy cost.

Longevity. FPS take a long time to take on and off. Longevity. FPS take a long time to take on and off. Also need to consider repeated decompression. Also need to consider repeated decompression.

Alternative or Supplemental SuitsAlternative or Supplemental Suits

MCP - Mechanical MCP - Mechanical Counter Pressure SuitCounter Pressure Suit

Intermediate Intermediate Environment SuitEnvironment Suit Not gas-tight suit (like a Not gas-tight suit (like a

flight suit)flight suit) Oxygen Face MaskOxygen Face Mask Microwave absorbent Microwave absorbent

materialmaterial

Our Solution: Build a “Mars Our Solution: Build a “Mars Hangar”Hangar”

An intermediate environment can be used An intermediate environment can be used to provide external pressure- Compress to provide external pressure- Compress existing Mars air to >0.5 Barexisting Mars air to >0.5 Bar

Sprung Instant Structures

Benefits of a “Mars Hangar”Benefits of a “Mars Hangar” We can increase the pressure while using a We can increase the pressure while using a

thinner suit, so motion is much less restrictedthinner suit, so motion is much less restricted With a higher pressure we can use mixed gasesWith a higher pressure we can use mixed gases Can decrease or eliminate decompression timeCan decrease or eliminate decompression time Taking suit on and off is much more time Taking suit on and off is much more time

efficientefficient Allow us to use local resources to supply and Allow us to use local resources to supply and

exhaust air – saves on costsexhaust air – saves on costs Increased mobility makes it much easier to Increased mobility makes it much easier to

assemble and repair airplanes, ATVs and roversassemble and repair airplanes, ATVs and rovers

Decompress in “Mars Hangar”Decompress in “Mars Hangar”Pre-breathe 100% OxygenPre-breathe 100% Oxygen Inert EnvironmentInert EnvironmentCan still do productive workCan still do productive work

Temperature RegulationTemperature RegulationLong range heating by directed Long range heating by directed

microwaves – minimize bulkiness of suitmicrowaves – minimize bulkiness of suitDeliver the heat energy directly rather than Deliver the heat energy directly rather than

heating empty space, a plus for energy heating empty space, a plus for energy poor environments like Marspoor environments like Mars

Can be more efficiently reflected than Can be more efficiently reflected than infraredinfrared

Easier to produce and direct than infraredEasier to produce and direct than infrared

SummarySummary Building and operating machinery Building and operating machinery

will be essential in Martian will be essential in Martian exploration. exploration.

Intermediate environments will be Intermediate environments will be very useful and can be developed very useful and can be developed by:by: Building a Mars air pressurized Building a Mars air pressurized

hangar hangar Developing a thin, flexible, low weight, Developing a thin, flexible, low weight,

intermediate environment suitintermediate environment suit Using directed heating by microwavesUsing directed heating by microwaves

Thus, we can provide sufficient Thus, we can provide sufficient pressure, oxygen and pressure, oxygen and temperature while dramatically temperature while dramatically decreasing the bulkiness of the decreasing the bulkiness of the space suit. This will increase space suit. This will increase mobility, dexterity and visibility. mobility, dexterity and visibility.

Things will get done!Things will get done!

Future ExperimentsFuture ExperimentsSimulations of work with FPS compared to Simulations of work with FPS compared to

work with Intermediate Environment Suitwork with Intermediate Environment SuitMaterials testing with microwavesMaterials testing with microwaves