Mining Mars

A look at extracting resources from the red planet.

ABSTRACT

A manned-mission to Mars would be a literal waste of government funding if no attempts to justify its cost were made. An effort by the crew to extract natural resources from various locations on Mars should result in justification for the mission's cost in addition to motivation for return voyages to the planet. Upon arriving on Mars, experimentation surrounding mining possibilities would first be conducted in the atmosphere as well as on and below the surface. These investigations would be trailed by low-scale mining endeavors to test the actual feasibility, practicality, and cost/profit estimations of later mining missions.

LOGISTICS/ENGINEERING

Introduction

In a perfect universe, a utopia, human beings might colonize another planet for purely aesthetic reasons, or as a means to expand their population and culture. In our universe, however, feelings are vastly different from those of a paradise. One cannot help but succumb to some natural selfishness; it is said that money makes the world go 'round. While such statements are certainly not true, it is sincere to say that greed inspires many endeavors. Similarly, when man looks to the stars in modern times, he is subconsciously deliberating what riches lie out in the infinite abyss beyond his reach.

Basically, an effort to colonize Mars is purely idealistic. In contemporary society, there is usually a money-making reason invoking motivation. In this case, wealth lying tantalizingly close upon, beneath, or near the surface of Mars may be just the key to drive intelligent minds to pursue, research, and fund a profitable mission to the famous terrestrial planet of Mars.

Logistics

In order for this Mars project to become achievable, the space program must first initiate some essential projects: A space-faring vessel must be constructed, large enough to limit the unavoidable claustrophobia resulting from extended space-travel, one enduring enough to provide consumables for five astronauts for up to three years and to withstand a possibly vigorous voyage with multiple orbital maneuvers around both Earth and Mars, and one capable of containing a centrifugal device to simulate gravity and decrease the rate of muscle atrophy due to zero-g environments. The craft will be constructed over the course of several space shuttle orbiter-missions whose goals will be to carry components and piece together the large ship. It must be equipped with Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines strong enough to accelerate it to and from orbit, and enough fuel to last the duration of the mission. Also, it must have several efficient recycling systems for oxygen, water, and other crucial consumables.

Bulk supply containers will be launched to Mars before the actual mission, orbiting the planet for as long as necessary. These crafts, designed to carry mass amounts of equipment and supplies, will contain everything from large pieces of experimental equipment to reserve food supplies for the astronauts. Each will be equipped to either make a single descent to the surface of Mars or dock with the main spacecraft, where their contents may be accessed by the crew.

In addition to the principle vessel, a drop/jump ship must be designed and built. This ship will be launched ahead of time (like the bulk supply containers) and will remain in orbit until the main vessel docks with it to transfer crew members. Needless to say, the craft must carry enough fuel to descend gently to the Martian surface and return itself to orbit, several times if necessary.

A training program for the astronauts should be launched several years before the actual mission. Two astronauts, the pilot and mission commander, will be expected to fly endless situations in preparation for flying the craft, as well as being able to deal with every possible situation, crisis or otherwise, that could arise during the mission. They will be responsible for leading the space-travel portion of the mission. The third astronaut will be trained in the use of the drop/jump ship which will ferry him- or herself and the fourth and fifth crew members to and from the Martian surface. The fourth astronaut will be a scientific/medical technician leading the scientific effort and familiar with analyzing and treating a variety of human physical and mental conditions. The fifth astronaut will lead the geological mission onto, and during the stay on, the Martian surface. All five of the astronauts will undergo countless tests and situational simulations, as well as zero-g and low-gravity training.

Assisting the astronauts in their examination of the Martian surface will be a variety of tools including, but not limited to, drills, shovels, picks, and autonomous robotics. Several of these sturdy robots will be ferried to the surface with the drop/jump ship and will collect and analyze samples continuously during the stay on Mars.

An environmental structure to house the astronauts must be designed not only to withstand the Martian sandstorms, but also to supply the three astronauts with oxygen. It must be able to fit into the drop/jump ship, and will be left behind when the expedition ends. Astronauts on the surface will make a weekly trip outside of their compound to attend tasks that are delicate enough to require human attention rather than that of automation. They will also retrieve any and all samples gathered by the robots during these excursions. A wheeled vehicle will be at the scientists' disposal, to carry them across any great distances.

Suits worn by the scientists during outings onto the Martian landscape must be carefully designed. These devices, designed specifically to protect the mission members yet allow for mission accomplishment, must be able to protect the wearer against cold of up to -200° Fahrenheit and heat of up to 80° Fahrenheit, the temperature extremes of Mars. They must allow a free range of mobility to enable the astronauts to effectively conduct routine and/or vigorous tasks and chores. The suits must contain electronic equipment allowing for the greatest extent of communication possible between mission members, including those in orbit.

In addition to the above, some relay satellites are necessary to keep Earth in contact with Mars during any periods when another celestial body may interfere with normal radio communications (including Mars itself). Due to the increased time for radio waves to travel between the two planets, both sides of the mission (those on Mars and those on Earth) must ensure that mission critical information is received by the other party as soon as possible.

EXPERIMENTAL PROPOSAL

Problem/Hypothesis

A mission to Mars would obviously be the most expensive endeavor ever undertaken by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). To vindicate its own cost, this mission to Mars will focus on one aspect: locating any key natural resources on Mars, in the atmosphere, or below the surface and researching methods of accessing and exploiting them.

Essential Materials

- autonomous land rovers capable of finding, collecting, and analyzing mineral samples

- various hand-mining tools for use by scientists on the Martian surface

- robotic drills capable of extracting samples several meters below the surface

- compact, wheeled vehicle suited to ferrying astronauts over lengthy distances on Mars

- structure to house surface-based astronauts with enough room for common amenities and a suitable laboratory

- polar communication relay satellite(s) to keep the Mars mission in constant contact with Earth-based mission control

- Landsat Dprime-type satellites (Earth Resources Technology Satellite [ERTS]) to locate mineral resources

Procedures

The landing site will be determined previous to the mission, taking into account all evidence of valuable matter, organic or otherwise. When the Mars research team touches down on the planet, the astronaut's habitat will be set up, and, after other critical tasks are accomplished, the three astronauts will ready and deploy the automated roving robots. With a wide stance and multi-terrain treads, the robots will cruise up to several miles a day, stopping often to gather soil samples from several depths, determine composition, and relay all information to the scientists. Of the three robots, one will return to camp weekly, carrying tangible samples to the research party. The other two will continue their course, broadcasting their finds to the camp (or the orbiting satellites and spacecraft above, who will in turn relay it to the ground party should technical difficulties arise).

The robots and scientists will be guided by an upgraded Landsat Dprime-type satellite which will utilize a Multispectral scanner (MSS) capable of seeing and analyzing the visible and infrared spectrums, and a Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) camera system which will photograph, scan, and record high detail images to locate concentrations of natural resources. Geochemical prospecting, a process in which chemical changes and other clues are used in mineral exploration and geologic mapping, will also be used to pinpoint resource deposits in addition to the Landsat.

The rocks, soil, and other particles on the surface will be studied intensely by both robots and scientists to discover their composition, and whether or not they contain valuable or rare resources. If so, the scientists will explore the possibilities of mining in the future by testing extracting equipment under certain conditions, measuring soil hardness in different areas, and researching the methods these resources are tapped on Earth. The equipment at their disposal will include not only basic hand tools, but also automated drills able to extract material from far beneath the surface.

It has been suggested by NASA's two Viking landings that the surface contains much gypsum which may be used in the production of cement. If this is the actual case, the crew will begin a small manufacturing process including the gypsum, extracted water, and surface dust to produce cement on a trial/limited scale. Efforts will also be made to utilize the other metals and silicates known to exist in vast amounts on the crust of Mars. For example, methods of mining feldspar (a group of silicates known to include valuable deposits of aluminum, potassium, sodium, calcium, and barium) may be tested. Some of the mining methods used over the mission's duration will be: gopher mining, a primitive method in which small, narrow holes are drilled to extract the resources; solution mining, in which a chemical or bacteria is used to liquefy the resource before it is pumped to the surface; and limited strip and shaft mining.

Like crew members on the surface, those astronauts left in the spacecraft will conduct multiple experiments concerning the Martian atmosphere, rotation, gravity fields, and orbit to augment our previous knowledge of the red planet obtained by our robotic explorers (namely, the Mariner space probes). The Martian atmosphere is known to contain vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) which may be used in the production of rocket fuel. Further experimentation may help alleviate the cost of future missions by producing a method of harnessing this resource to supply spacecraft with enough fuel for a return voyage to Earth. Tests on the Martian atmosphere will also include investigating the possibilities of mining the nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and water vapor from it. The two satellites of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, which have been highly overshadowed by their mother planet, will also be studied extensively for resources during the long stay in orbit.

Data Analysis

Because the mission will take place on three basic fronts (Martian surface, Martian orbit, and Earth), several separate laboratories must be arranged to analyze the massive amount of information that will be gathered. On the surface, the astronauts' living structure will contain a small laboratory capable of analyzing mineral compositions. All scientists on the voyage will prepare weekly reports to summarize their findings, which will complement the constant stream of data sent to Earth, where specialized laboratories will scrutinize the data and reports. The expedition will return with many Martian samples which will also be thoroughly inspected by the Earth-bound laboratories.

In conclusion, a mission to Mars is basically useless if no attempts to utilize its hidden yet accessible wealths are made. Possibilities of mining exist not only beneath the surface, but also in the atmosphere; with extensive planning, training, anticipating, and contingency-making, such a mining endeavor could succeed with flying colors and pave the way for future missions.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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