Exploring Life on Mars: Our Journey to Become a Multi-Planetary Species
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Chapter 1: The Vision of Life on Mars
Imagine waking up to a sleek, high-tech alarm clock, stepping into a communal space, and gazing out at a stunning red landscape that invites scientific discovery. Or perhaps you just need to freshen up; I can’t say for sure.
What I can assert is that the dream of becoming a multi-planetary species is within our grasp. To successfully inhabit Mars, we must advance in materials science, mechanical engineering, and chemistry. Developing lightweight, durable, and cost-effective materials is essential for constructing safe Martian habitats while minimizing both costs and payload requirements. These are crucial challenges we must overcome to experience the thrill of waking up to such a vast and beautiful environment.
In my research, I coined a helpful acronym: TSSP — Requirements, which highlights the vital components for a comfortable Martian habitat.
#1 Transport #2 Shelter #3 Sustenance #4 Persistence
Transport encompasses the basics: reaching Mars, navigating its surface, and departing from it.
Shelter pertains to where humans will reside. Various intriguing concepts have emerged in the scientific community regarding potential shelter locations, which I will explore later in this article.
Sustenance involves all aspects of human consumption and waste management: food, water, and waste.
Once we establish these foundational elements, Persistence becomes the most critical ongoing aspect of the TSSP Requirement Pie. This involves continuous operations, resource acquisition, maintenance of transport and shelter, and the development of new systems—both essential and auxiliary.
Transport
I won’t delve deeply into transport methods; many excellent authors and companies, like SpaceX with its Starship, have already covered this extensively. Ultimately, our goal is to maximize payload delivery in minimal time and with maximum frequency.
Shelter
This is where the science becomes particularly fascinating. The typical sci-fi image of a Martian habitat often resembles a geometrically shaped dome nestled in a crater:
While such a structure may appear appealing, several challenges hinder its feasibility. Few transparent materials exist that are both lightweight and strong enough to support large structures. Transporting glass, for instance, would require countless rocket launches, and constructing such a structure poses its own set of challenges—especially since we lack equipment like scissor lifts on Mars.
There is a potential to mine silicates on Mars’ surface to create glass and other materials, but I will discuss that in the Persistence section. A 2002 study highlighted the potential hazards posed by Martian dust, examining common silicates like olivine, pyroxene, and feldspar (Wikipedia, 2023).
Cave Dwellings
An intriguing alternative approach is to utilize lava tubes beneath the Martian surface. These aren’t active lava channels but rather dormant tubes formed millions of years ago following the loss of the Martian atmosphere. Cave shelters could offer significant advantages over other forms of habitation.
For one, caves would provide robust protection against severe Martian weather. Sandstorms can persist for weeks, obscuring sunlight and eroding equipment with airborne regolith. Furthermore, winds exceeding 100 km/h could displace unsecured gear and cover it in dust.
Temperature is another critical factor favoring underground living. Martian nights can plunge to -153 degrees Celsius, while daytime temperatures may reach a pleasant 20 degrees Celsius. Residing in a cave would help retain heat, as the surrounding ground offers insulation, and the wind would not drastically cool the shelter’s outer layer.
Sustenance
Food ranks as the third major element in the TSSP requirement pie.
While Matt Damon showcased effortless potato farming in "The Martian," the need for a sustainable and enjoyable diet is essential. Although potatoes could be viable, humanity cannot rely solely on them. Research confirms that Martian soil contains nutrients conducive to plant growth, albeit with some work needed to ensure it’s safe for cultivation.
Ideally, a variety of crops—such as carrots, peas, and even fruit-bearing trees—would be cultivated in dedicated grow rooms within our habitats. However, protein sources remain a challenge. Raising animals on Mars presents difficulties, as transporting them is complex, and animal protein is resource-intensive.
More innovative solutions include 3D-printed protein and insect meat, which is a highly efficient protein source, though often met with psychological resistance from people.
An intriguing alternative is Mycoprotein, produced during sugar fermentation, which is remarkably resource-efficient. For further reading, check out MyCorena’s insights, which I highly recommend thanks to Martina Bergentall’s engaging writing.
Water is relatively easier to produce: by combining hydrogen and oxygen or filtering from other sources, we can generate this essential resource. In "The Martian," Matt Damon demonstrates this by utilizing leftover rocket fuel components to create water.
As we transition into the second part of this exploration, we will delve deeper into the various aspects of Martian life.
In the meantime, take a moment to reflect—after all, you’ve earned it.
Until next time, Abram.