1. By Alexa Gracias and Marysia Serafin

2. SCOPE SUMMARY  Need: Further human exploration of the solar system and knowledge.  Goal: To send humans to Mars and prepare for long-term human inhabitation on Mars.  Objective: Create a basic Martian base for humans to live on and determine factors necessary to facilitate a long-term human colony on Mars.

3.  Operational Concept: A transit vehicle will transport initial crewmembers to Mars, where they will construct a preliminary base. Subsequent transit vehicles will bring more crewmembers and resources and commencing scientific inquiry and exploration of the planet. In 2045, in conclusion of the mission, all crewmembers, data, and equipment will be transported back to Earth in a transit vehicle.

4.  Assumptions: The proposed mission is approved, and all required technology and resources are available.  Constraints: There are several constraints to the mission. First, the mission launch must occur before the year 2040. Second, the outpost must contain between 10 and 40 people. Third, the outpost inhabitants and crew must depart from Mars in time to return to Earth by 2045.

5.  Authority and Responsibility: The proposed mission is international, and with the authority of the United Nations; NASA and participating nations have the authority to carry out the mission, and all participating nations share responsibility for the mission.

6.  Supplies for crew: food, water, extravehicular activity suits, hygienic supplies, first aid supplies, and entertainment to ensure the mental health of the crew.  The mission requires a drill and a water filtration system, in order to utilize the frozen water located underneath the Martian surface. (Watanabe, 2008)

7.  There is no protection other than shielding on the transit vehicle in space, and whilst on Mars, the extremely thin atmosphere doesn’t do much to protect against radiation. (Bevill, 2014) (Tillman, n.d.)  long-term radiation, which could lead to radiation sickness (high-dose radiation exposure that usually affects the gastrointestinal system and bone marrow) and the damage of the body’s chromosomes  Therefore strong shielding in extravehicular activity (EVA) suits, the surface base, and transit vehicle is necessary. (Bevill, 2014)

8.  Malnutrition and illness are also risks posed on the crewmembers.  In order to remain healthy, crewmembers should take vitamins and nutritional supplements, and there should be a doctor on board to treat any illness.  The long term effects of microgravity will mostly likely be detrimental to body.  Meteorites are uncontrollable and can cause a great amount of damage.

9.  What we hope to discover/learn.  1. Was the Martian atmosphere thick enough at some point during the planet’s history to allow for life?  2. What are the temperature patterns throughout the Martian year?  3. How much radiation is the surface exposed to throughout the Martian year?

10. EFFECTS ON HUMAN BODY  In order to maintain optimal astronaut performance and safety, astronauts must maintain stable and adequate sleep (NASA, 2013).  Sleep deprivation can result in performance deficits, behavioral abnormalities, and a weakened immune system, none of which are suitable for living in space (Plummer, 2014) (NASA, 2013).  As noted by Cardiac Adapted Sleep Parameter Electrocardiogram Recorder, it was seen that astronauts only get 6 hours of sleep.

11.  The proposed base will be a Phase III type, a small operational base. (Larson and Pranke, 2003) This is because it is primarily functioning as a tool to prepare for permanent human habitation on Mars.  The proposed surface base will be located in the area known as Vastitas Borealis, which is near the Martian North Pole. (Carr, 2014)

12. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS  PHASE 1: This contains the planning and preparation of the transit vehicles, and the utilization as the basis for the Martian Outpost.  Research will be conducted to find the best was to design and create the transit vehicles and bases. The construction of the transit vehicles and base materials will be carried out.  Crewmembers, chosen for their expertise in required areas and abilities, will be chosen and subsequently trained. The launch date will be set, and all final preparations will be carried out.

13. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS  PHASE 2: Ten crewmembers in the first transit vehicle will depart for Mars, landing approximately ten months later and set up the initial base, creating a Phase II research base. (Larson and Pranke, 2003) (Redd, 2014)  Basic experimentation and research will be carried out, and be reported back to Earth periodically.  A secondary crew of ten will depart after the arrival of the first crew, arriving approximately ten months after, bringing supplies and a second area of the base. (Redd, 2014)  The water ice retrieval and filtration system will begin to run, allowing for the growth of plants. A third transit vehicle containing a crew of four will arrive bringing more supplies, and add to the Martian outpost.

14. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS  PHASE 3: A fourth, much larger transit vehicle will arrive with a crew of four and transport fourteen of the crewmembers back to Earth, along with the majority of equipment and research.  The third transit vehicle used will transport remaining crewmembers and scientific equipment back to Earth after the arrival of the first part of the crew back on Earth in about ten months from its departure from Mars.  The third phase of the proposed mission will be completed by 2041, four years before the deadline of 2045.

15.  The proposed mission is designed to be international in order to better share the research and knowledge that will result from the proposed mission. All participating countries will participate in the cost and design and training of the crew. The main spoken language on the Martian outpost will be English, although all crewmembers will be bilingual.

16.  Total Crew members: 28  Ten in the arriving first transit vehicle, ten in the second, four in the third, and four in the fourth.  Half of the crewmembers in each arriving transit vehicle will be female, the other half male.  The crewmembers’ age will range from late 20s to mid- 30s at the time of departure for Mars. This is so that they will have had time to receive extensive training to gain expertise in a specific area, but young enough so that they are in their physical prime of life, and are less likely to have health problems

17.  The specialties of the crewmembers has been chosen with the mission goal in mind: to create an outpost on Mars to determine the effects of the Martian environment on the human body, whilst determining how to make it adaptable for a permanent human civilization, in addition to researching Mars itself.  There must be extremely well trained pilots, doctors, engineers, biochemists, and geologists.

18. CONCLUSION  To research Mars in order to understand or discover elements that will make the planet more hospitable to human life.  Through the international element, it is hopes that the proposed mission will contribute to the growth of the human race as a whole in the future.