A Dutch non-profit organization proposed ” Mars One” project, it’s called as the project of the first human foot on Mars in 2025. This task will initially four astronauts to Mars, where they will spend the rest of his life on mars. How confident can imagine this risky – especially “Mars One” actually declared the entire plan will be accomplished using existing technology.
Engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said the project may be slightly delayed a little longer, at least to carefully consider the feasibility of the technology. Can realize the extent they invented a meticulous sound analytical tools to assess residence “Mars One” mission found that let humans live on Mars.
“We are not saying ‘Mars One’ is not feasible, it is not black and white conclusions.” co-author Olivier de Weck ” professor of aerospace engineering systems at the MIT said but we believe that under the existing technology integration is not feasible. We made more urgent need to invest energy and time to develop the technology, and then let the program along the track to promote more viable. “
The team also conducted a comprehensive analysis of the supply of spare devices for – how much each need to transport spare parts to Mars to live, in order to ensure the normal operation of residence?
They found that with the expansion of residential, spare parts will quickly occupy most of the space transportation future, there is likely to account for 62% of the payload.
“Or take it to grow food on Mars, you need illumination system and water supply system, take light, for example, we found that, from beginning to end, we need a 875 LED system, it is necessary to provide spare parts, the results of the initial transport truck load more heavy. “
Throughout all of these require spare parts, will continue to affect the cost of flying to Mars program. Researchers estimate Owens provides spare parts issue, and analysis is calculated based on the NASA to provide spare parts for the International Space Station reliable data obtained.
“The basic idea of the International Space Station, if something is broken, you can call home to Earth, and will soon get a new up.” Owens said. “If on Mars, you want this one spare parts, you have in a launch window of emitted 26 months, and then wait 180 days to get our hands on every flight. If you can spare parts manufactured locally, you may save a lot of things. “
Owens pointed out, 3D printing technology allows immigrants manufacture spare parts of Mars. However, this technology has not yet developed enough advanced, yet not to duplicate the exact dimensions of space and has enough features spare parts.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysis pointed out, 3D printer technology also requires leaps and bounds, or all of what Mars settlement infrastructure all need to be redesigned in order to print all the parts with the existing technology.
Assessment of the Overall Project Cost, is not Optimistic
The researchers said their living conditions develop analytical tools to help determine the feasibility of a majority envisaged. For example, they also calculated the number of rockets transported the first batch of four members of the group and follow-up needed, as well as with respect for the one-way trip to Mars, the timing of replacement of immigrant members of overall program spending will be more? And so on.
According to “Mars One” program, before the official delivery of the first batch of astronauts get there, it may take six Falcon Heavy rocket to transport the initial nourishing.
But Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that this number a bit “too optimistic”: the beginning of at least 15 heavy rockets to complete the initial supply mission. Only this one transport costs, together with the transport astronauts, reached $ 4.5 billion, while the expenditure is bound to increase with the other members and supplies and soaring.
And the above estimate does not include the cost of development and the purchase of related equipment. For example, boils water on the Earth common place tool. The Phoenix Mars rover found some evidence in 2008, suggesting that the presence of ice on Mars surface, which means that future migrants may rely on melting ice to produce potable water, which is “Mars One” program another target. However, according to the analysis Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the existing boiler technology on Earth cannot be used directly in the design space.
Olivier de Weck said that the project of a human landing on Mars exciting prospect indeed, in order to make this vision can be down to earth, and indeed still need a lot of technological innovation, in particular by means of repeated demonstration strict “systems theory” approach.
NASA technology director Tracy Gill said this tool to evaluate other programs are equally applicable to reach Mars. He said: “This tool is useful for mission designers to help them with better analytical results support the larger framework of the mandate.”