General summary of student emails
By
Ana (Evaluation)
Translation by Cristiana
COLONY LOCATION
equator
poles
Infrastructure needs:
Water supply system
Energy
solar (too expensive)
nuclear (too risky)
wind
hydrogen combustion
biodigestors
Dome (transparent or not?), capsule type housing (similar to the ones in Japan)
Laws - terrestrial laws or colonial autonomy?
Communications - satellite system
Creating an atmosphere in Mars (too expensive?)
Underground habitation?
Auto sufficient colony, as not to take water away from the planet or cause environmental impact.
WHO SHOULD GO FIRST TO THE COLONY?
physical strength , emotionally balanced
very heterogeneous community
know how to work in group
not having any serious psychological problems
It was suggested that a selection survey should be done to select the first humans to go to Mars.
Suggested Research Areas
Social
Biological
Environmentalist
Questions that came up by Dec. 1, 1999
How do we use the discussion list?
What type of energy should we use in Mars?
Would the quantity of solar energy that reaches Mars be sufficient to allow for its efficient use?
What type of social organization will the colony have?
What laws should the colony have?
What physical/psychological characteristics should the first humans to go to Mars have?
Where should the colony be located? Equator or Poles?
Is there wind on Mars?
What are the consequences to humans to live in a place, such as Mars, where the gravity is inferior to Earth's?
Is there water or ice on Mars?
How is the topography on Mars?
How could we make a hole to create an underground colony?
Will the colonists return to Earth or stay there for the rest of their lives?
Would it be possible to produce energy here on Earth, and send it through microwaves or other means to Mars?
What is the distance from the Pole to the Martian Equator? We can remember that we don't need the temperature to be 25C, such as where we live. A lower temperature that is still livable is still reasonable. Out of curiosity, what is the average temperature where the Esquimos live?
But what is the difference in cost when implementing a nuclear reactor or solar panels? Also, as the years pass, how much would it cost? The cost of maintenance of a solar panel system is irrelevant when compared to the costs of maintaining a nuclear reactor...
How much time would it take to travel from Earth to Mars in case help was needed? For example, if the reactor is about to leak and the colony has no conditions of containing/repairing the damage. How long would it take an expedition to reach Mars, even if it's only to help the colonists?
Important Discoveries up to December 1, 1999
The temperature variation in Mars is quite big.... in a "summer", the average temperature is -40oC (233K), with peaks of 14oC (259K). In the "winter", the average temperature is -120oC (153K). According to research by NASA, the Poles in Mars have water in the form of ice.
Martian soil is similar to the Sahara desert soil, with the difference of quantity of nutrients: Martian soil is much richer in nutrients...
I was doing some research and found out that the Martian soil is rich in iron oxide (Fe2O3). If we react this compound with fluor, we can obtain oxygen. Maybe this could be a good way to obtain oxygen for the atmosphere on Mars, which has around 0,13% already of this gas.
According to NASA's press kit, the winds on Martian surface reach 80 miles/hour (40 meters/second).
The home page said that the planet has almost all the elements necessary for life, but they are frozen and mixed in the soil. The planet has a small atmosphere made up mainly of CO2.
Mars' gravity is three times smaller than Earth's.
Mars atmosphere is very rarefied.
Experimental creation made by Dec. 1, 1999
"I made a system of lenses and sensors but I can't send them through the list. But it's a simple system. Think about a stomata. It's something similar, but instead of gases, obtain radiation would be our intention. I tested the system here at home with artificial light and the result was reasonable, after all, I don't have all the equipment they have at NASA right?" (This image can be seen in the introductory page of the How section - to see it, just press the back button on top of your browser)
Document based on 75 messages exchanged amongst students during the month of November (starting on November 26th to be more precise).