The Colonization of Mars - Who’s Doing It, How and Why?

The Colonization of Mars:

Who’s doing it, how and why?

Connor​ ​McCampbell

AP​ English Literature and Composition 2A

Mrs. Deegan

13​ January ​2016

The Colonization of Mars:

Who’s doing it, how and why?

As the most recent elections approached, plenty of people warned they would be moving to Canada either joking or serious. I had a much better idea. No crazy politician could threaten my peaceful isolation there. Unfortunately, I found I was about a year too late to apply for a life on Mars. Still, the idea of going to Mars is exciting; every mountain I scale, I would be the first to reach the top, every canyon I explore, I would be the first to reach its floor, and in a thousand years, the history of an entire world would have my name on the first page. It is dreams like this that fuel passion and creativity in NASA, SpaceX, and Mars One, as they begin their long journeys towards putting man on Mars.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has set its sights on Mars. NASA doesn’t actually plan to create a permanent settlement, but to put people on Mars and develop technologies that would allow for Martian settlements to be made. NASA has already proven of the great benefits to all areas of society that space exploration can bring with the development of satellite telecommunications, GPS, weather satellites, solar panels, and even water‐purification systems. In addition to scientific advances like these NASA declares motivation to go to Mars is to, "discover life, identify resources, foster economic growth, inspire and educate, protect ourselves from space-based threats, and leave a better future for the next generation,” ("Benefits Stemming from Space Exploration").

Before reaching Mars, NASA has created three phases for developing and demonstrating capabilities in incremental steps: Earth Reliant, Proving Ground, and Earth Independent. NASA is currently working in the Earth Reliant phase, which should last until the mid 20s. This phase takes place mostly in research aboard the International Space Station focused on advancing human health and performance and technologies necessary for deep-space, long-duration missions. This research will further human health and behavioral knowledge, 3D printing, material flammability tests, extravehicular operations, advanced communications systems, environmental control and life support systems development, and in-situ resource utilization (the collection, processing, and use of materials found in space that would otherwise have to be supplied from Earth). After completing the Earth Reliant phase, NASA will move onto the Proving Ground phase, working on tasks in a deep space environment or cislunar orbit (orbit around the moon) to develop capabilities necessary for a manned exploration of Mars. Work in this phase consists of a series of Exploration Missions (in 2018) as integrated tests of the SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion (a spacecraft), the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (in 2020) which will collect and retrieve a boulder from an asteroid to be investigated and sampled, a deep-space habitation facility for long-duration systems testing, improving autonomous operations, and concepts to minimize resupply needs. Finally, the Earth Independent phase will build off of research in the previous two to send humans to Mars and develop technologies and infrastructure for people to live their independently in the future. This includes using transit and surface habitats to support life for years; using Martian resources to create food, water, fuel and building resources; and creating communications relay systems with only 20 minute delays. NASA currently reveals no specific outline for what its eventual trip to Mars will look like, instead stating they’re focusing on strategic investments, and as capabilities are proven, NASA will further define future goals and missions ("NASA's Journey to Mars").

NASA has also highlighted specific challenges they will address as they move towards the Earth Independent phase. NASA is looking for a more efficient system for Earth-to-LEO (low Earth orbit) transportation. NASA has begun partnering with commercial industry to help make this shift, allowing NASA to rely on a cheaper, flexible market to provide LEO transportation services. Estimates for a single missions to Mars require 20-30 metric tons of equipment in addition to inspace habitation, transportation stages, and supplies for trips of up to 1,100 days. NASA expects this will require a new 10-meter diameter fairing (the structure atop the SLS housing cargo) to accommodate these unprecedented volumes. A whole new system for entry EDL (entry, descent, and landing) will be necessary for these massive loads ("NASA's Journey to Mars"). A possible solution to this could be supersonic retropropulsion which would fire rockets facing Mars to slow the spacecraft but without using a parachutes, so the spacecraft would be plummeting at supersonic speeds (Fernholz) ("NASA's Journey to Mars"). Currently, the ISS transmits data to Earth at 38 megabytes a second, but manned missions to Mars would require 125 megabytes a second and at a 1,000 times greater distance. EVA (extravehicular activity) systems must be developed to supply biological needs, protect from the environments, and allow for dexterity required for exploration. NASA will need to develop in-situ resource utilization technologies to allow use of Martian resources, such as collecting water from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, ice crystals, or hydrated minerals, to create liquid oxygen propellent, radiation shielding, or use in life support systems. Habitats and supplies both in space and on Mars for long-duration missions. Long-duration missions in the microgravity of space pose high risks among the crew for atrophy, neurovestibular issues, bone loss, and trauma among other illnesses. To combat these risks, crews will require new systems and tools for diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment, as well as exercise systems. Without Earth’s magnetic fields to protect them, radiation will also pose a problem for electronics and the crew. NASA’s Human Research Program is working on systems to protect and treat the crew and electronics from the effects of radiation ("NASA's Journey to Mars").

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, more commonly known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport