Mission to Mars
Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility School of Environmental Sciences University of Guelph
Hubble Deep Field
Who wants to go to Mars?
Who likes camping?
Astronaut Training
Before you pitch your tent you might want to know more about the place you are going...
Earth Mars
Day length 24:00 24:39:22
Orbit 365 days 687 days / 669 sols
Speed 107 278.87 km/h 57 161.57 km/h
Temperature Average High Low
14 58 -88
-55 27
-133
Mass 5.98 x 1024 kg 6.42 x 1023 kg
Gravity 9.8 N/kg 3.7 N/kg
Atmospheric composition Oxygen Nitrogen Carbon dioxide
21 % 77 %
0.38 %
0.13 % 2.7 % 95 %
Pressure 101.3 kPa 0.7 kPa
Pressure
or lack thereof...
What will happen?
Pressure... rock
Before After
What will happen?
Pressure... balloon
Before After
What will happen?
Pressure... bubble wrap
Before After
What will happen?
Pressure... marshmallow
Before After
What will happen?
Pressure... apple
Before After
What will happen?
Pressure... marshmallow
Before After
What will happen?
Pressure... shaving cream
Before After
What would happen to a plant under low pressure?
What would happen to a person in the vacuum of space?
Biosphere 2 1991- 1993 (present)
1/3 of the gravity very cold temperatures very little air pressure
Will this work?
What are you going to do for food?
Current • Resupply from Earth • Physical-chemical systems
Food Oxygen Carbon dioxide removal Water
$50,000 per kilogram
Oxygen = 0.75-1.0 kg/day*
Water = 3.0 kg/day* (recycle)
Food = 0.5-0.6 kg/day*
Crew = 6
Food/Oxygen = 9.6 kg/day
Trip duration = ~2 years
Total Food/Oxygen = 7008 kg
Average elephant = 2300 kg
Cost just for food = $ 350 400 000**
* statistics based on a 70 kg (154 lbs) person
** does not include cost of food
Is there a better way to get food, oxygen and water while living on Mars ?
• Food Production
• Carbon Dioxide Absorption
• Oxygen Generation
• Water Recycling
• Waste Degradation
Advanced Life Support
oxygen
pure water
food
carbon dioxide
waste water
organic waste
Advanced Life Support
Bioregeneration Bioregeneration Bioregeneration
Photosynthesis
Transpiration
Martian Agriculture Recall that Mars has very low temperatures and little atmospheric pressure. How would you grow plants?
In a greenhouse.
Woohoo! A greenhouse on Mars!
• Can use ambient light
• Warmer environment
• UV protection
• Weather Protection
–Wind
–Dust storms
• Increased pressure
• Increased humidity
Radishes
Ambient – 100 kPa 66 kPa
33 kPa 10 kPa
Science is fun
Mars Analog – Devon Island
Webcam images
Mars Analog - Utah
Spirulina (Arthrospira) Freeze dried strawberries
Without a Greenhouse?
What do you want to eat on Mars?
Who wants to go to Mars?