What steps need to be taken for successful human colonization of Mars?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and considerations for a manned mission to Mars, including technical, psychological, and logistical issues. Participants explore various aspects such as travel time, crew composition, power management, and the potential use of robotics in preparation for human colonization.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the overhead of keeping humans alive on Mars significantly burdens the mission, proposing that robotic explorers may be more effective in the near future.
  • Concerns about the psychological hardships of isolation for crew members are raised, with some suggesting that previously bonded couples may be preferable for crew dynamics.
  • Travel time to Mars is estimated to be around 4 to 6 months, with discussions on the optimal crew size ranging from 6 to 8 members, including medical personnel.
  • There is debate over the necessity and feasibility of a centrifuge for artificial gravity, with some proposing that the entire ship could spin to create artificial gravity.
  • Power management is highlighted as a critical issue, with LED lighting being noted as less of a concern compared to atmospheric control systems.
  • Radiation protection and the threat of micrometeoroids are identified as significant hazards for the mission, with suggestions for thicker shielding at the front of the spacecraft.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the feasibility of a manned mission to Mars by 2019, citing financial and infrastructural challenges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the feasibility and planning for a manned Mars mission, with no clear consensus on the best approach or timeline. Multiple competing views remain regarding the use of robotics versus human crews, crew composition, and the prioritization of resources.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unresolved technical constraints, varying assumptions about crew dynamics, and differing opinions on the prioritization of missions to Mars versus the Moon.

  • #61
I did my thesis on a mission to Mars. Ours, and many other proposals, involve technology still being developed (namely propulsion systems) and employ their theoretical capabilities once fully R&D'd.

There is a few of us that think sending an automated green house, with robots to "man" it, would be a wise decision before we start setting people down on that harsh planet. It's fairly straightforward:

Capsule that lands on Mars IS the green house. Plant growing stations are already set up and ready to be seeded, watered, monitored by the robot(s).

It will start producing vegetation within 6 months that is ready to eat... IF all works well. The robots will monitor the plants, recycle them in compost piles, etc... via remote control from Earth. From this, we may decide to send people in afterward.

Meanwhile, I sent (in my report) two rovers. One big one, and a smaller one who is like the "baby" to the mother, going where she can't, to provide simultaneous research for plant growing possibilities in our green house. Will the wind storms knock out too much sunlight? will other factors prove it near impossible to grow in our green house? etc...
 
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  • #62
The reason why there is no life on Mars is because it's not sustainable. No atmosphere, no liquid water,etc..but there's a bigger problem that nobody mentions in the terraforming discussions..no magnetic field.The surface is constantly bombarded with radiation. Even if you get an atmosphere, it will dissipate into space quickly because of this. Thats the one thing that makes it impossible to terraform mars.
 
  • #63
Emreth said:
The reason why there is no life on Mars is because it's not sustainable. No atmosphere, no liquid water,etc..but there's a bigger problem that nobody mentions in the terraforming discussions..no magnetic field.The surface is constantly bombarded with radiation. Even if you get an atmosphere, it will dissipate into space quickly because of this. Thats the one thing that makes it impossible to terraform mars.

Thank you Emreth! I was getting tired of reading the super-ego disputes, and then there it was. The first thing on my mind, no magnetic field. Do we know if plants need a magnetic field to grow?
 
  • #64
sigma143 said:
Thank you Emreth! I was getting tired of reading the super-ego disputes, and then there it was. The first thing on my mind, no magnetic field. Do we know if plants need a magnetic field to grow?
Please note that the post to which one responded is 2 years old.
 
  • #65
Astronuc said:
Please note that the post to which one responded is 2 years old.

Yea. Emreth brought a good point and nobody responded...
 

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