N. A. S. A.

The Case for Mars

Concept Development for a Mars Research Station

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This document describes a program to establish a permanent scientific research base on Mars. We present a Mars base as the much needed long-term focus for the space program. A permanent base was chosen rather than the more conventional concept of a series of individual missions to different sites because the permanent base offers much greater scientific return plus greater crew safety and the potential for eventual growth into a settlement. The Mars base will strive for self-sufficiency and autonomy from Earth . Martian resources will be used to provide life support materials and consumables. The Martian atmosphere will provide a convenient source of volatiles: CO2, N2, and water. Rocket propellant (for returning vehicles), fuels, breathable air, and fertilizers will be manufactured from Mars air. Food will be grown on Mars using Martian materials as plant nutrients. A permanent human presence will be maintained on Mars beginning with the first manned landing via a strategy of crew overlap. This permanent presence will ensure safety and reliability of system through continuous tending, maintenance, and expansion of the base's equipment and systems. A permanent base will allow the development of a substantial facility on Mars for the same cost (in terms of Earth departure mass) as a series of temporary camps. A base equipped with surface rovers, airplanes, and the ability to manufacture consumables and return propellant will allow far more extensive planetary exploration over a given period of years than would an approach that featured a series of short exploration missions such as the Apollo Moon program.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: University Press of the Pacific
• Seitenzahl: 144
• Erscheinungstermin: 16. Juni 2005
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 280mm x 210mm x 8mm
• Gewicht: 372g
• ISBN-13: 9781410224286
• ISBN-10: 1410224287
• Artikelnr.: 22432681