Date: April 23, 2015 Purpose: Design a conceptual permanent self-sustaining Martian base with a concentration on in-situ resource utilization Josiah Emery Brian Crane Josh Mann Logan Coard Zach Desocio Andrew German Steven Trenor Jon Buttram Jonathan Ricci Gregory Greene Ian Nemetz-Gardener

Power and Energy Systems Radiation effects on Mars In-situ Plastic Production Structure Design Water production Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Additional areas (analyzed but not discussed): Food production Transportation Base Design Elements Brian Crane

Power and Energy Systems Jonathan Ricci and Hunter Greene Rapid-L nuclear reactor 5 MW of thermal energy 200 KW of electrical energy Solar panel arrays Reliability Initial power source Fuel cells Radioisotope powered rovers

Rapid-L Nuclear Reactor

Radiation Effects on Mars Ian Nemetz-Gardner and Jonathan Buttram Types of radiation Neutron Flux Galactic Cosmic High and low Linear Energy Transfer (LET) Rapid-L radiation Radiation levels on Mars Protection Methods Regolith shielding Liquid methane and water Expert Consultation Dr. Britten of EVMS

The Sabatier Reaction CO 2 (g) + 4 H 2 (g) CH H 2 O Slurry Reaction (TiCl 3 = Zeigler-Natta Catalyst) C 2 H 4 Polyethylene + (C 2 H 4 )n In-situ Plastic Production Steven Trenor

Structure Design Logan Coard and Zach Desocio Base Size Supports 24 people Size: Approximately 1540 m 3 Structure Shape Four cylindrical modules connected with airlock chambers (7 m Diameter, 10 m Long) Inflatable structures Can support up to 5 m of regolith Estimated life span: 20 years Pressurized bladder with Vectran exoskeleton Mylar and Dacron due to decompostition of Vectran

NASA Langley Inflatable Structure BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module)

Water Production Josh Mann Water is an essential resource for all base systems Possible sources of water: Equatorial brine streaks (unreliable) Subsurface permafrost in northern polar region Extraction system: Fracture regolith-ice layers Transport to rock crusher Mining machinery analog Pressurized tank for water evaporation Thermal energy from Rapid-L Approximate analysis 60 kg of water from a 12 hour cycle and 1 MW of thermal energy

Colonization is feasible because of water Mechanical properties of permafrost needed Three point bend test at NASA Langley Research Center Yields: Bending Stress Shear Stress Maximum Loading Effective Young’s Modulus Predict levels of force required on actual Martian surface

Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Andrew German Testing: No access to actual Martian JSC-1a Martian regolith simulant Volcanic sand from an island in Hawaii Water content selection 15 to 35% by mass water in increments of 5% Additional samples: 2% by NaCL Temperature selection -140 C ( K): minimum surface temperature -63 C ( K): average surface temperature -20 C ( K): typical summer temperature

Water Content by Latitude Mars Odyssey Data

Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Jon Buttram Sample Creation: Foam molds utilized (water ice expansion) Layer of Saran wrap to protect against water damage JSC-1a baked to remove initial moisture and air molecules Dry ice Simulates carbon dioxide rich environment during freezing Sample total: 54 9 at each water content 3 trials for each condition Minimum for statistical analysis

Representative Testing Articles

Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Zach Desocio Testing Parameters: 250 lb load cell Applied a strain rate: 0.05 in/s Cryogenic chamber and liquid nitrogen Thermocouples for measuring real time temperature On load applicator On extra sample in chamber to ensure proper temperature Two failure modes of the samples

Three-point Bend Test (-143 C)

Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Josiah Emery Goal: determine bend and shear stress for breaking Results:

Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Josiah Emery

Conclusions: Breaking force increases with water content Strength is minimal at 15% or lower water content Permafrost appears stronger at -63 C ( K) Decrease in strength at other temperatures Rock crushing is a feasible option At low concentrations, the effects of temperature were minimal Influence of brine on sample strength is unclear Does not appear to be a problem

Mechanical Properties: Martian Permafrost Josiah Emery Discussion Failure modes: Immediate failure at maximum loading Formation of cracks and constant loading until failure Sources of error: Hand-made foam molds Anisotropic material JSC-1a simulates Martian regolith Future work: Different freezing rates (size of ice crystals – Dr. Hudson) Increase sample population Thermophysical properties

Gantt Chart

Questions