The manned mission is seen as a first step towards a Mars surface exploration base-station and, later, establishing permanent settlement. The location and use of Mars’s natural resources is vital to enable cost-effective long-duration human exploration and exploitation missions as well as subsequent human colonization. Planet resources include various crust-lodged materials, a low-pressure natural atmosphere, assorted forms of utilizable energy, lower gravity than Earth’s, and ground placement advantages relative to human operability and living standards. Power resources may include using solar and wind energy, importation of nuclear reactors and the harvesting of geothermal potential.
In fact, a new branch of human civilization could be established permanently on Mars in the next century. But, meantime, an inventory and proper social assessment of Mars’s prospective energy and material resources is required. This book investigates the possibilities and limitations of various systems supplying manned bases on Mars with energy and other vital resources. The book collects together recent proposals and innovative options and solutions. It is a useful source of condensed information for specialists involved in current and impending Mars-related activities and a good starting point for young researchers.
Mars Prospective Energy and Material Resources
Viorel Badescu (Ed.)
Mars Prospective Energy and Material Resources
ABC
Prof. Viorel Badescu, Candida Oancea Institute Polytechnic University of Bucharest Spl. Independentei 313, Bucharest 060042 Romania E-mail:
[email protected]
ISBN 978-3-642-03628-6
e-ISBN 978-3-642-03629-3
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-03629-3 Library of Congress Control Number: 2009934313 c 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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This book is dedicated to those who believe that any sensible decision should be made by taking into account the world as it will be.
Foreword
Mars, the Red Planet, fourth planet from the Sun, forever linked with 19th and 20th Century fantasy of a bellicose, intelligent Martian civilization. The romance and excitement of that fiction remains today, even as technologically sophisticated robotic orbiters, landers, and rovers seek to unveil Mars’ secrets; but so far, they have yet to find evidence of life. The aura of excitement, though, is justified for another reason: Mars is a very special place. It is the only planetary surface in the Solar System where humans, once free from the bounds of Earth, might hope to establish habitable, self-sufficient colonies. Endowed with an insatiable drive, focused motivation, and a keen sen