UMCB/Mars MkI-incomplete by ToastedSoul

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

NOTE: all models are at initial stage and not refined, nor optimized for printing, only a rough idea at the moment
The unmanned colony builder/Mars MkI is a project that seeks to automate the construction of shelters and basic facilities that a colony would require. The goal is to send in an initial amount of machinery and materials to mars, then the colony builds it'self to await colonists' arrival.
Overview:
1.Shelter
2.Power
3.Life Support
4.Communications
5.Landing Pad
6.Science
7.Manufacturing
1.Shelter:
The shelter includes : living quarters, maintenance and life support, connection ducts(green house, solar panels), manufacturing, power, underground storage and passageways, science and communication(central command)
Shelter are built from transformable exteriors of the payload that carried the machinery and material to mars. Secondary shelters are manufactured from materials found on mars. A high Temperature furnace (electric arc or similar electric furnace used in basaltic smelting) will first melt the martian regolith (mainly basaltic) into molten lava form. The molten lava will then either be processed into usable parts for glass or metals or form pellets that can be transported and used by the "printing modules"
Due to the climate on mars, these shelters have a low profile and octagonal shapes to deflect sand storms. solar panels and green house modules are designed to be extendable and shielded from external environment. The internal habitat would be pressurized where the base of the complex being formed during excavating the foundation with cooled molten rocks as walls
2.Power
There are a few possible options for power; solar, thermal, nuclear, wind and geothermal.
The interior of connectors are fitted with solar panels and the exterior with solar thermal gathering system. also, a solar furnace is incorporated for both melting basaltic rocks and thermal generation for generators.
The exterior bodies are designed with Thermoelectric materials and would power the ventilation system and LEDs for indoor temperature and lighting. An underground thermal chamber is used for storing cold martian atmosphere from night times and used as coolant throughout the facilities. The thermal difference is also used to generate power.
Wind power from the dust storm could be used for power generation and is adapted into the combined shaft for ventilation underneath the facilities. This way the wind speed could be controlled as well as using the turbines when there is no wind.
These combined methods will primarily power the life support system, any excess power would be sent to mining and manufacture(electric furnace and printing module).
It was considered to install a nuclear reactor to fully power the machinery, hopefully the lower gravity of mars won't require a reactor to run the colony.
3.Life support
Air, water, food. The main necessities of life. Water is available on mars near the polar caps or in aqueous minerals, but the majority of the water would be recycled. Vegetation is grown in the green house or hydroponics bay and with Sabatier reaction, air and water are recycled with the extra methane going to power or manufacturing. Fertile soil production from residues of the mining process would add to creating soils for cultivation.
4.Communications
To prevent "going dark" orbital satellites are required for communications and surveillance. This module would also be responsible for central command and oversees the colony. The communications tower would suffice proximity areas of the colony but any further would require satellites to relay the information.
5.Landing pad
A flat hardened area for space crafts and surveillance drones to land/take off. hexagonal shape allows customized layout. The landing pad is also situated above the underground storage and ventilation system. This is also the hanger for autonomous machines for recharge, repairs and maintenance.
Science
A small Laboratory capable of small scale manufacturing and contains the central computer mainframe for the colony.
7.Manufacturing
Comprised from mining with automated diggers and grinders to construction and fabrication of materials. The soft and brittle surface of mars should allow diggers to dig for a foundation and then the pieces would be heated in the furnace and the molten lava could be used like concrete to set the foundation and print walls.
Metals and mineral extraction could also be done during this.
Construction relies on self assembling parts and the lava printer. The printer is a mobile platform that has 4 robotic arms where 2 are heating elements and 2 are cooling and smoothing guide. The mobility is provided by the treads and retractable stabilizers.
Basically in a nut shell it is a foundation system that can process raw materials and build a closed environment as well as providing necessities for life.