[Mars] production plant - was - Re: Post conference

[Mars related topics]

Hi everyone

With work and volunteer stuff it seems that I now only check my email
about once a month :(

But on the up side, I was talking with a friend of mine who is retired
and has a lot of time.  He likes to make things and makes all sorts of
things.  We spoke about this project and he is interested in participating.

I'm also back on track with my CNC mill conversion project, so should in
the next decade or two have a working milling machine and can make part.
  I can also make parts at school or at work.

But first we need a design...

Mars related topics wrote:
> Hi Roy/Terry
> 
> Sorry it has taken me so long to respond.

It seems apparent that this may be at times a slow moving project.
Is this overly discouraging to anyone? or can we move ahead at a slow 
pace and be OK with it?

> To start I will list all the papers I have found that talk about
> Zubrin's plans for going to Mars and in situ resource utilization. 
> Scientific America, March 2000, 4 articles. Scientific America, June
> 2001. Acta Astronautica, Vol 26 No 12, pg 899-912, 1992. Acta
> Astronautica, Vol 32 No 9, pg 617-628, 1994. Aerospace America
> (AIAA), Vol 28 No 18, pg 30-32, 1990. MIT Technology Review, Vol 99
> No 8, Nov/Dec 1996. Chemical Engineering Progress, pg 45-54, Feb
> 1999. (has the most info for our discussion)

While I've not read all of this, what I have seen lacks details.
Though some of this sounds promising for details, have you reviewed most 
of this? any details?

> His book, The Case for Mars has some details.

Yes, in terms of reactions, ... I forget, is one of you a chemist?

BTW, I plan to take chemistry probably a year from now.

> All the published work I have seen is 5-15 years old, the next step
> should be to find the latest info, so we don't re-invent the wheel.
> Zubrin may help with this.  I will take the action to contact him to
> discuss our interest in building a prototype to test at MDRS.

Great, what was his response?

> I guess the next step is to define what our initial project will be,
> which broadly is Martian In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU).  This
> can be broken into 2 categories, 1) pull CO2 from the atmosphere and
> break it down into O2 and C, if there is a source of H2, the C can be
> converted to H2O and CH4 or 2) break the Martian soil to the atomic
> level and recombine into O2, CH4 and H2O.  There are many other
> elements in the soil, but it is probably better to keep a narrow
> focus initially.  The technology to do the first idea is probably
> available, it just needs to be packaged for Mars and the main task is
> providing an energy source, also a source of H2 is needed, Zubrin
> suggests bringing the H2 from Earth since it is so light.  The second
> idea is not as developed, but since there is some H2 based compounds
> in the soil, it is attractive.  I propose we try the second idea,
> what do you think?

Interesting idea, the second one.

In order to increase chances for success it seems good to start small 
and basic and when that part works build on it.  The soil idea sounds 
like a later stage process.  That is, it would use much the same 
equipment as the first option, but would be more complicated due to the 
need to handle solids, gather dirt, get rid of wast.

So my first choice would be the first option, here's way:

- All materials are either a gas or a liquid, easy to move with pumps 
and simple plumbing.
- The raw material can be pumped in from the air, it is air. So no need 
for any robotic dirt gathering machine.
- Project can be built in sections, with as yet unbuilt sections being 
simulated, such as bottled CO2 for the input, and AC power instead of 
solar power or nuke.  These sections can later be replaced with 
something more appropriate.
- Once this is working it would be a great learning experience to start 
from to take on a soil based project.

> Is our goal to design and build a small prototype that we can test at
> MDRS.  If this is successful, I think the Mars Society will help find
> sponsorship to pursue the concept and ultimately send it to Mars.

Again, if we start with a gas based unit and are successful it is very 
likely that funding may be forthcoming for the more complicated soil 
based unit.

-- 
Terry Mackintosh <terry at mackintoshweb.com>
http://www.mackintoshweb.com/mars/ Mars Society, FL chapter.
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