Mars colonization

Mars colonization- Creation of human settlements on the planet Mars.

Important step for the future of mankind. Mars is the focus of both speculation and serious research into possible colonies.

Mars is the least energetically expensive planet to travel to from Earth, with the exception of Venus. Traveling in the most economical semi-elliptical orbit requires about 9 months of flight time; with an increase in the initial speed, the flight time is rapidly reduced, since the length of the trajectory also decreases.

similarity to the earth

Differences

Suitability for development

Without protective equipment, a person will not be able to survive on the surface of Mars for even a few minutes. However, compared to the conditions on hot Mercury and Venus, the cold outer planets, and the atmosphereless Moon and asteroids, conditions on Mars are far more livable. On Earth, there are such places explored by man, in which natural conditions are in many ways similar to Martian ones. Atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 34,668 meters is the highest point reached by balloon with the team on board (May) - approximately corresponds to the pressure on the surface of Mars. Extremely low temperatures in the Arctic and Antarctica are comparable to even the lowest temperatures on Mars. Also on Earth there are deserts similar in appearance to the Martian landscape.

Main difficulties

The main dangers that await astronauts during a flight to Mars and being on the planet are as follows:

  • high level of cosmic radiation;
  • strong seasonal and daily fluctuations in temperature;
  • meteor hazard;
  • low atmospheric pressure.

Possible physiological problems while on Mars for the crew will be the following:

  • stress;
  • adaptation to Martian gravity;
  • orthostatic instability after landing on the planet;
  • violations of the activity of sensory systems;
  • sleep disorders;
  • decrease in working capacity;
  • metabolic changes;
  • negative effects from exposure to cosmic radiation.

Ways to Terraform Mars

Main goals

Ways

It should be noted that the last two of the above methods require thorough calculations aimed at studying such an impact on the planet, its orbit, rotation speed, and much more.

But the most serious problem in the way of the colonization of Mars is the lack of a magnetic field that protects against solar radiation. For a full-fledged life on Mars, a magnetic field is indispensable.

Radiation

Mars One

The Dutch company Mars One is going to send a man to Mars in 2023. This will be the first step towards its colonization. According to the plan, four people who will never return to Earth will be the first to go to the Red Planet. Then every two years, four new members of the nascent colony will arrive on Mars. By preliminary estimates, sending the first colonizers to Mars will cost $ 6 billion. To recoup the costs, Mars One intends to attract television by showing the whole process, the whole procedure for preparing the first and subsequent crews in live. “It will be an enchanting spectacle, against which “Big Brother” will seem like a pale shadow. The whole world will be watching and experiencing this trip, ”The Huffington Post quotes the words of Nobel Prize winner in physics Gerard Hooft.

Despite the fact that the company spoke about its plans only recently, they have been hatching since last year. "This project is almost the only way realize the dream of mankind in the exploration of outer space. It will be an exciting experiment. Let's get started,” urges Hooft. As part of the Mars One project, in 2016 it plans to launch a communications satellite to Mars, and send a rover there two years later. He will find suitable places for the colony. By 2020, everything necessary for life support will be delivered to the Red Planet, and in another three years people will catch up.

Centenary spaceship

"Centenary Spaceship" Hundred-Year Starship) - a project to irrevocably send people to Mars in order to colonize the planet. The project has been developed since 2010 by the Ames Research Center - one of the main scientific laboratories NASA. The main idea of ​​the project is to send people to Mars forever. This will lead to a significant reduction in the cost of the flight, it will be possible to take more cargo and crew. Further flights will deliver new colonists and replenish their supplies.

Communication with the Earth

The delay of signals from Mars to Earth, due to the finiteness of the speed of light, is calculated in minutes. The light signal will go from Mars to Earth from 3 to 22 minutes, depending on the location of Mars and Earth at the time of the signal. However, the use of electromagnetic waves (including light waves) does not make it possible to maintain direct communication with the Earth (without a relay satellite) when the planets are at opposite points of their orbits relative to the Sun.

Possible locations for founding colonies

Best Places for a colony, they gravitate towards the equator and lowlands. First of all it is:

In the case of terraforming, the first open body of water will appear in the Mariner Valley.

Colony (Forecast)

Although so far the design of the Martian colonies has not gone beyond sketches, for reasons of proximity to the equator and high atmospheric pressure they are usually planned to be founded in different places the Mariner valley. Whatever heights space transport reaches in the future, the laws of conservation of mechanics determine the high cost of delivering goods between Earth and Mars, and limit the periods of flights by tying them to planetary confrontations. The high cost of shipping and 26-month inter-flight periods determine the requirements: 1) Guaranteed three-year self-sufficiency of the colony (additional 10 months for flight and ordering). It can be done only by accumulating structures and materials on the territory of the future colony before the initial arrival of people. 2) Production in the colony of basic structural and consumable materials from local resources. This means the need to create cement, brick, reinforced concrete products, air and water production, as well as the deployment of ferrous metallurgy, metalworking and greenhouses. Saving food will require vegetarianism. The probable absence of coking materials on Mars would require the direct reduction of iron oxides by electrolytic hydrogen - and consequently the production of hydrogen. Dust storms can make solar power impossible for months, which, in the absence of natural fuels and oxidizers, makes the only reliable nuclear power on Mars. Large-scale production of hydrogen and five times the amount of deuterium in the ice of Mars compared to the Earth's will lead to the cheapness of heavy water, which will make heavy-water nuclear reactors the most efficient and cost-effective for uranium mining on Mars. 3) High scientific or economic productivity of the colony. The similarity of Mars to the Earth determines the great value of Mars for geology, and in the presence of life - for biology. The economic profitability of the colony is possible only when large rich deposits of gold, platinoids or precious stones are discovered.

Criticism

In addition to the main arguments for criticizing the idea of ​​human space colonization (see), there are objections specific to Mars:

see also

Notes

Links

Filmography

  • "Residence - Mars" (Eng. Living on Mars listen)) is a non-fiction film produced by National Geographic in 2009.
Colonization
solar system
space like
habitat
Resources and Energy

Part of the materials and essentials (primarily oxygen, water, food food) from local resources, this way of conducting research will be generally more cost-effective than sending returning expeditions or creating settlement stations for rotational work. In addition, in the future, Mars can become a convenient testing ground for large-scale scientific and technical experiments that are dangerous for the earth's biosphere.

As for mining, on the one hand, Mars may turn out to be quite rich in mineral resources, and due to the lack of free oxygen in the atmosphere, rich deposits of native metals are possible on it, on the other hand, at the moment, the cost of delivering goods and organizing production in an aggressive environment (a rarefied atmosphere unsuitable for breathing and a large amount of dust) is so great that no wealth of deposits will ensure the payback of production.

To solve demographic problems, it will be necessary, firstly, to transfer the population from the Earth on a scale that is incomparable with the possibilities modern technology(at least millions of people), and secondly, ensuring the complete autonomy of the colony and the possibility of a more or less comfortable life on the surface of the planet, which will require the creation of a breathable atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and solving problems of protection from cosmic radiation. Now all this can be considered only speculatively, as a prospect for the distant future.

Suitability for development

similarity to the earth

Differences

  • The force of gravity on Mars is approximately 2.63 times less than on Earth (0.38 g). It is still unknown if this is enough to avoid the health problems that come with weightlessness.
  • The surface temperature of Mars is much lower than Earth's. The maximum mark is +30 °C (at noon at the equator), the minimum is -123 °C (in winter at the poles). The temperature of the surface layer of the atmosphere is always below zero.
  • Due to the fact that Mars is farther from the Sun, the amount of solar energy reaching its surface is about half that on Earth.
  • The orbit of Mars has a larger eccentricity, which increases the annual fluctuations in temperature and the amount of solar energy.
  • Atmospheric pressure on Mars is too low for humans to survive without an air suit. Living quarters on Mars will have to be equipped with airlocks, similar to those installed on spacecraft, which could maintain the earth's atmospheric pressure.
  • The Martian atmosphere consists mainly of carbon dioxide (95%). Therefore, despite its low density, the partial pressure of CO 2 on the surface of Mars is 52 times greater than on Earth, which may allow vegetation to be maintained.
  • Mars has two natural satellite, Phobos and Deimos. They are much smaller and closer to the planet than the Moon is to the Earth. These satellites may prove useful [ ] when checking the means of colonization asteroids .
  • Mars' magnetic field is about 800 times weaker than Earth's. Together with a rarefied (by 100-160 times in comparison with the Earth) atmosphere, this significantly increases the amount of ionizing radiation reaching its surface. The magnetic field of Mars is not able to protect living organisms from cosmic radiation, and the atmosphere (subject to its artificial restoration) from scattering by the solar wind.
  • Detection by a Phoenix craft that landed nearby North Pole Mars in 2008, in the soil of Mars, perchlorates casts doubt on the possibility of growing terrestrial plants in the Martian soil without additional experiments or without artificial soil.
  • The radiation background on Mars is 2.2 times higher than the radiation background at the International Space Station and is approaching the established safety limits for astronauts.
  • Water, due to low pressure, boils on Mars already at a temperature of +10 °C. In other words, water from ice, almost bypassing the liquid phase, quickly turns into steam.

Principal Reachability

The flight time from Earth to Mars (with current technology) is 259 days in a semi-ellipse and 70 days in a parabola. In principle, the delivery to Mars of the necessary minimum equipment and supplies for the initial period of the existence of a small colony does not go beyond the capabilities of modern space technology, taking into account promising developments, the implementation period of which is estimated at one to two decades. At the moment, the fundamental unresolved problem is protection from radiation during the flight; if it is solved, the flight itself (especially if it is carried out "in one direction") is quite real, although it requires huge investments financial resources and solving a number of scientific and technical issues of various scales.

At the same time, it should be noted that the "launch window" for a flight between the planets opens once every 26 months. Taking into account the flight time, even in the most ideal conditions(the successful location of the planets and the availability of a transport system in a state of readiness) it is clear that, unlike near-Earth stations or a lunar base, a Martian colony, in principle, will not be able to receive operational assistance from Earth or evacuate to Earth in the event of an emergency situation with which impossible to manage on your own. As a consequence of the foregoing, just to survive on Mars, a colony must have a guaranteed period of autonomy of at least three Earth years. Taking into account the possibility of the occurrence during this period of a variety of emergency situations, equipment failures, natural disasters, it is clear that in order to ensure survival, the colony must have a significant reserve of equipment, production capacities in all branches of its own industry and, most importantly, energy generating capacities, since all production and the entire life support of the colony will be acutely dependent on the availability of electricity in sufficient quantities.

living conditions

Without protective equipment, a person will not be able to live on the surface of Mars for even a few minutes. However, compared to the conditions on hot Mercury and Venus, the cold outer planets, and the atmosphereless Moon and asteroids, conditions on Mars are far more livable. On Earth, there are such places explored by man, in which natural conditions are in many ways similar to Martian ones. Earth's atmospheric pressure at 34,668 meters - the highest point reached by a balloon with a crew on board (May 4) - is approximately twice the maximum pressure on the surface of Mars.

The results of recent studies show that Mars has significant and yet directly accessible deposits of water ice, the soil, in principle, is suitable for growing plants, and there is a fairly large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. All this together makes it possible to rely (with sufficient energy) on the possibility of producing plant foods, as well as extracting water and oxygen from local resources, which significantly reduces the need for closed-loop life support technologies that would be needed on the Moon, asteroids, or on a remote planet. from Earth to a space station.

Main difficulties

The main dangers that await astronauts during the flight to Mars and stay on the planet are as follows:

Possible physiological problems while on Mars for the crew will be the following:

Ways to Terraform Mars

Main goals

Ways

  • A controlled collapse on the surface of Mars of a comet, one large or many small icy asteroids from the Main Belt or one of Jupiter's satellites, in order to warm up the atmosphere and replenish it with water and gases.
  • The launch of a massive body, an asteroid from the Main Belt (for example, Ceres) into the orbit of the satellite of Mars, in order to activate the effect of the planetary "dynamo", and strengthen the own magnetic field of Mars.
  • Changing the magnetic field with the help of laying a ring around the planet from a conductor or superconductor with a connection to a powerful energy source.
  • Explosion on several polar caps nuclear bombs. The disadvantage of the method is the radioactive contamination of the released water.
  • Placement in the orbit of Mars artificial satellites capable of collecting and focusing sunlight to the surface of the planet to warm it up.
  • Colonization of the surface by archaebacteria (see archaea) and other extremophiles, including genetically modified ones, to release the necessary quantities of greenhouse gases or obtain the necessary substances in large volumes from those already on the planet. In April, the German Center for Aviation and Cosmonautics made a report that in the laboratory conditions of the simulation of the atmosphere of Mars (Mars Simulation Laboratory), some types of lichens and cyanobacteria adapted after 34 days of stay and showed the possibility of photosynthesis.

The methods of influence associated with the launch or fall of an asteroid require thorough calculations aimed at studying such an impact on the planet, its orbit, rotation speed, and much more.

A serious problem in the way of the colonization of Mars is the lack of a magnetic field that protects against solar radiation. For a full-fledged life on Mars, a magnetic field is indispensable.

It should be noted that almost all of the above actions to terraform Mars at the moment are nothing more than "thought experiments", since for the most part they do not rely on any existing in reality and at least minimally proven technologies, and in terms of approximate energy costs many times exceed possibilities of modern humanity. For example, to create pressure sufficient at least for growing in the open ground, without sealing, the most unpretentious plants, it is required to increase the available mass of the Martian atmosphere by 5-10 times, that is, to deliver to Mars or evaporate from its surface a mass of the order of 10 17 - 10 18 kg. It is easy to calculate that, for example, it will take approximately 2.25 10 12 TJ to evaporate such an amount of water, which is more than 4500 times higher than the entire modern annual energy consumption on Earth (see).

Radiation

Manned flight to Mars

Creation of a spacecraft for flight to Mars - difficult task. One of the main problems is the protection of astronauts from solar radiation particle flows. Several ways of solving this problem are proposed, for example, the creation of special protective materials for the hull or even the development of a magnetic shield similar in mechanism of action to a planetary one.

Mars One

"Mars One" is a private fundraising project run by Bass Lansdorp that involves flying to Mars, then establishing a colony on its surface and broadcasting everything that happens on television.

Inspiration Mars

The Inspiration Mars Foundation is an American non-profit organization (foundation) founded by Dennis Tito, planning to send a manned expedition to fly around Mars in January 2018.

Centenary spaceship

"Centennial spaceship" (eng. Hundred-Year Starship) - a project, common goal which is preparation for a century for an expedition to one of the neighboring planetary systems. One of the elements of preparation is the implementation of the project of irrevocably sending people to Mars in order to colonize the planet. The project has been developed since 2010 by the Ames Research Center - one of the main scientific laboratories of NASA. The main idea of ​​the project is to send people to Mars in order for them to establish a colony there and continue to live in this colony without returning to Earth. Refusal to return will lead to a significant reduction in the cost of the flight, it will be possible to take more cargo and crew. Further flights will deliver new colonists and replenish their supplies. The possibility of a return flight will appear only when the colony, on its own, can organize the production of a sufficient amount of the necessary items and materials from local resources on the spot (primarily, we are talking about fuel and supplies of oxygen, water and food).

Communication with the Earth

To communicate with potential colonies, radio communication can be used, which has a delay of 3-4 minutes in each direction during the closest approach of the planets (which repeats every 780 days) and about 20 minutes at the maximum removal of the planets; see Configuration  (astronomy). The delay of signals from Mars to Earth and vice versa is due to the speed of light. However, the use of electromagnetic waves (including light waves) does not make it possible to maintain direct communication with the Earth (without a relay satellite) when the planets are at opposite points of their orbits relative to the Sun.

Possible locations for founding colonies

The best places for a colony gravitate towards the equator and lowlands. First of all it is:

  • Hellas depression - has a depth of 8 km, and at its bottom the pressure is the highest on the planet, due to which in this area the lowest level of background from cosmic rays on Mars [ ] .
  • Valley Mariner - not as deep as the Hellas depression, but it contains the greatest minimum temperatures on the planet, which expands the choice of structural materials [ ] .

In the case of terraforming, the first open body of water will appear in the Mariner Valley.

Colony (Forecast)

Although so far the design of Martian colonies has not gone beyond sketches, for reasons of proximity to the equator and high atmospheric pressure, they are usually planned to be established in different places in the Mariner Valley. Whatever heights space transport reaches in the future, the laws of conservation of mechanics determine the high cost of delivering goods between Earth and Mars, and limit the periods of flights, tying them to planetary confrontations.

The high price of delivery and 26-month inter-flight periods determine the requirements:

  • Guaranteed three-year self-sufficiency of the colony (additional 10 months for flight and ordering). This is possible only if structures and materials are accumulated on the territory of the future colony before the initial arrival of people.
  • Production in the colony of basic structural and consumable materials from local resources.

This means the need to create cement, brick, reinforced concrete, air and water industries, as well as the deployment of ferrous metallurgy, metalworking and greenhouses. Saving food will require vegetarianism [ ] . The probable absence of coking materials on Mars would require the direct reduction of iron oxides by electrolytic hydrogen - and, accordingly, the production of hydrogen. Martian dust storms can make solar energy unusable for months, which, in the absence of natural fuels and oxidizers, makes it the only reliable, this moment, only nuclear energy. Large-scale production of hydrogen and a five times higher content of deuterium in the ice of Mars compared to Earth's will lead to the cheapness of heavy water, which, when mining uranium on Mars, will make heavy-water nuclear reactors the most efficient and cost-effective.

  • High scientific or economic productivity of the colony. The similarity of Mars to the Earth determines the great value of Mars for geology, and in the presence of life - for biology. The economic profitability of the colony is possible only when large rich deposits of gold, platinoids or precious stones are discovered.
  • The first expedition must still explore convenient caves suitable for sealing and pumping air for the mass settlement of cities by builders. The habitation of Mars will begin from under its surface.
  • Another likely effect of the creation of grotto colonies on Mars may be the consolidation of earthlings, the rise of global awareness on Earth; planetary synchronization.
  • The physical image of a settler's rebirth is a body “dried” from triple weight loss, skeleton and muscle mass are lightened. Change in gait, manner of movement. There is also the danger of gaining excess weight. There is a possibility of changing the diet in the direction of reducing food intake.
  • The diet of the colonists can shift to lactic acid, cow products from local hydroponic conveyor pastures arranged in the mines.

Criticism

In addition to the main arguments for criticizing the idea of ​​human space colonization (see Space colonization), there are objections specific to Mars:

  • The colonization of Mars is not an effective way to solve any problems facing humanity, which can be considered as the goals of this colonization. Nothing valuable has yet been discovered on Mars that would justify the risk to people and the costs of organizing mining and transportation, and there are still huge uninhabited territories for colonization on Earth, the conditions on which are much more favorable than on Mars, and the development of which will cost much more. cheaper, including Siberia, vast expanses of equatorial deserts, and even the whole mainland - Antarctica. As for the exploration of Mars itself, it is more economical to conduct it using robots.
  • As one of the main arguments against the colonization of Mars, an argument is made about its extremely small resource of key elements necessary for life (primarily hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon). However, in the light of recent studies that have discovered on Mars, in particular, huge reserves of water ice, at least in terms of hydrogen and oxygen, the question is removed.
  • Conditions on the surface of Mars require the development of innovative projects of life support systems for life on it. But since on earth's surface If there are no conditions close enough to Martian conditions, then it is not possible to verify them experimentally. This, in some respects, calls into question the practical value of most of them.
  • Also, the long-term influence of Martian gravity on people has not been studied (all experiments were carried out either in an environment with earth's gravity or in weightlessness). The degree of influence of gravity on human health when it changes from weightlessness to 1g has not been studied. It is planned to conduct an experiment (“Mars Gravity Biosatellite”) on mice in Earth orbit in order to study the effect of the Martian (0.38g) gravity force on life cycle mammals.
  • The second cosmic speed of Mars - 5 km/s - is quite high, although it is half that of the earth, which, with the current level of space technology, makes it impossible to achieve a breakeven level for the colony due to the export of materials. However, the density of the atmosphere, the shape (the radius of the mountain is about 270 km) and the height (21.2 km from the base) of Mount Olympus make it possible to use various kinds of electromagnetic mass accelerators (an electromagnetic catapult or a maglev, or a Gauss cannon, etc.) to remove cargo into the space. Atmospheric pressure at the top of Mount Olympus is only 2% of the pressure characteristic of the average level of the Martian surface. Considering that the pressure on the surface of Mars is less than 0.01 atmospheres, the rarefaction of the medium at the top of Olympus is almost the same as the vacuum of space.
  • The psychological factor also causes concern. The duration of the flight to Mars and the further life of people in a confined space on it can become serious obstacles to the development of the planet.
  • Some are concerned about the possible "pollution" of the planet by terrestrial life forms. The question of the existence (at present or in the past) of life on Mars has not yet been resolved.
  • Until now, there is no technology for obtaining technical silicon without the use of charcoal, as well as a technology for the production of semiconductor silicon without technical. This means huge difficulties with the production of solar cells on Mars. There is no other technology for obtaining technical silicon, since the technology using charcoal is the cheapest in terms of the cheapness of this material and energy costs. On Mars, it is possible to use the metallothermic reduction of silicon from its magnesium dioxide to magnesium silicide, followed by decomposition of the silicide with hydrochloric or acetic acid to produce gaseous monosilane SiH4, which can be purified from impurities different ways, and then decomposed into hydrogen and pure silicon.
  • Recent studies in mice have shown that long stay in conditions of weightlessness (space) causes degenerative changes in the liver, as well as symptoms of diabetes. Humans have experienced similar symptoms after returning from orbit, but the causes of this phenomenon were unknown. But Mars has gravity, the acceleration of free fall at its equator is 3.711 m / s², which is 0.378 of the earth. The journey to Mars can either be accelerated to 69 days, or spend part or all of it under the influence of artificial gravity using centrifuges or rotating compartments.

In art

  • Soviet song “Apple trees will bloom on Mars” (music by V. Muradeli, lyrics by E. Dolmatovsky).
  • "Residence - Mars" (Eng. Living on Mars) is a popular science film shot by National Geographic in 2009.
  • The song by Otto Dix - Utopia also has a reference ("... And apple trees will bloom on Mars, as on Earth ...")
  • The song of the artist Noize MC - "It's cool on Mars."
  • IN fantasy movie 1990 "Remember everything" The plot takes place on Mars.
  • Song by David Bowie - "Life on Mars", also by Ziggy Stardust (Eng. Ziggy Stardust) is a fictional character created by David Bowie and is the centerpiece of his glam rock concept album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars".
  • Ray Bradbury - The Martian Chronicles.
  • Isaac Asimov - Lucky Starr series. Book 1 - "David Starr, Space Ranger".
  • The film "Mission to Mars" tells about the rescue mission to the planet Mars after the disaster that befell the first expedition to the red planet.
  • On colonized Mars, the OVA Armitage III takes place.
  • The process of colonization and (in the second case) terraforming of Mars is devoted to desktop role-playing games"Mars Colony" and "Mars: New Air".
  • The terraforming and colonization of Mars is the main backdrop for the events of Kim Stanley Robinson's The Martian Trilogy.
  • A series of books by Edgar Burroughs about fantasy world Mars.
  • In the British television series Doctor Who in the series Waters of Mars on the surface of Mars, the first colony was developed in the crater Gusev "Bowie Base One".
  • Harry Harrison's science fiction short story "Training Flight" tells of the first manned expedition to Mars. Particular attention is paid psychological state a person living in a closed uncomfortable environment.
  • The novel by Andy Weir, The Martian, tells the story of a one and a half year struggle for the life of an astronaut left alone on Mars. In 2015, a film adaptation of this work was released.
  • John Carter is a fantasy action adventure directed by Andrew Stanton, based on the book Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
  • The Martian is a film directed by Ridley Scott and released by 20th Century Fox.
  • Know the Unknown is a 2016 American feature film about a solo space flight to Mars.
  • Applied Terraforming is a fantasy novel by Eduard Cutlas about the colonization of Mars.

No matter how paradoxical it may sound, our solar system is of little interest to humans. The inner planets are a combination of uncomfortable conditions and the absence of any resources of interest to mankind, while the outer ones (from Jupiter onwards) are not suitable for colonization at all, since they are gas giants. Their satellites could be of particular interest, but alas, their great remoteness makes them also unattractive.

However, humanity will still have to settle across the expanses of our system in order to simply survive, since the resources of the Earth are not endless. To do this, all suitable space objects will eventually have to be terraformed, that is, to create conditions on them similar to those on the earth on a global scale. This is necessary because the use small bases for the resettlement of the inhabitants of the Earth is impractical.

Perhaps, in a few thousand years, humanity will be able to master the “disassembly into atoms” of gas giants, such as Jupiter and Saturn, in order to later make huge orbital stations or even entire planets out of their substance. However, in the near future, we will be forced to limit ourselves to simpler engineering methods, similar to those that we use in everyday life on Earth.

If we consider inner planets satellites: Mercury, Werner, Mars and the Moon then, the first, most likely, will be colonized by Mars. This has a very simple explanation. The moon, despite its proximity, is a lifeless and poor object, that is, it will not be of any interest to earthlings. Mercury and Venus, due to the conditions on their surface, consisting in enormous temperature (and on Venus also in pressure), may not even be colonized in the coming millennia. But Mars ... Mars is surprisingly ideal not just for colonization by earthlings, it is suitable for completely transforming it into some kind of Earth. What makes it so special?

First, it may have a thick atmosphere similar to Earth's. The first escape velocity on Mars is 3.6 km/s; this means that the gravity of Mars is able to keep the atmosphere near it, preventing it from escaping into space (gases of the Earth's atmosphere have a speed of about 2.5 km/s). Second, water has been found on Mars; Huge amounts of water ice have been found not only in the polar glaciers of Mars, but also under its sandy surface. Water is the basis of our life, so if it is in large quantities on Mars, the chances of its colonization increase significantly. Thirdly, the soil structure of Mars is similar to terrestrial volcanic sands, that is, at least it is neutral to the flora of our planet; therefore, if nutrients are introduced into this soil, then it will be possible to grow potatoes on Mars. Well, and a little zest on the cake: the day on Mars, called "sol", has a duration of only twenty minutes less than on Earth, which will be of some convenience to people living there.

However, all this may be someday. At present, Mars is a very unattractive sight. average temperature on the planet reaches -60°C, the pressure of the atmosphere is 100-200 times less than that of the earth, and the most common gas is carbon dioxide. And yet, these are the best conditions for colonization that humanity has. A separate problem is the lack of a magnetic field on Mars, which is the reason high level radiation on the surface of the planet; The optimal solution to this problem is to cover the module blocks in which the colonists will live with a layer of Martian soil.

How will this process take place? Most likely, colonization will begin with the construction of a completely autonomous base for the people living there. Even taking into account all the favorable factors, a flight to Mars from Earth by current means takes from 2 to 4 months with a favorable arrangement of the planets, which happens once every 2 years. Thus, it is necessary to initially rely on the fact that help from the Earth in the event of an emergency situation may come with a serious delay and one must, at a minimum, be prepared to wait a sufficiently long time in offline mode.

The main task of the colony on Mars will be its constant growth, and it will be necessary to localize the extraction of natural resources and the production of station modules from them as much as possible in order to be independent of the supply of raw materials from Earth.

Growing food for the growing population of the colony will be a separate problem. Since it will be impossible to organize a cycle of continuous circulation of nutrients (like those that exist in the ecosystems of the Earth) at the first stages, some inconvenience in the nutrition of the colonists is not ruled out. Therefore, it is quite possible to eat sublimated food; it is possible to use an "amino acid cocktail" or even food as food industrial production. The latter is now receiving a lot of attention in China and Japan, so the anecdotal "plastic porridge" may become a very real thing for the astronauts of the future. If it is possible to realize in the colony completely autonomous system nutrition, it will be possible to consider this stage of colonization completed.

When the population of Mars exceeds the number necessary for the organization of large-scale industrial production, the second stage begins: the construction of complexes for enriching the atmosphere of Mars with oxygen and nitrogen. Thus, the conditions necessary for the existence of mankind without any protective means will be achieved; given the distance of Mars from the Sun, only one layer of the atmosphere will be enough to protect the surface from radiation.

Futurologists assign about a hundred years to the first stage of the colonization of Mars, and about a thousand to the second. In historical terms, this is, of course, a trifle, however, will we have enough time? The fact is that if humanity continues to grow and develop at a similar pace, in 200 years we will face an unmerciful end in the form of death from hunger. And, we can say that at present, humanity is waiting for a serious test of survival: will it be able to competently manage the rest of the resources in order to finally get out of its cradle-Earth?

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Manned orbital astronautics is a kind of test for a country for the title of a superpower. For humanity, such a test can be the development of the nearest cosmic bodies of the solar system. For example, the flight to Mars and the colonization of the planet.

Why does humanity need a megaproject

In recent years, the expediency of space flights has been considered from commercial and military-defense positions. The aggravation of the world economic crisis reduced the number of scientific projects to a minimum. Our nearest "neighbors" - the Moon and Mars are still waiting for their explorers. The colonization of any of these cosmic bodies is very important for the formation of new long-term prospects for the existence of mankind. It became obvious that the development of cosmonautics within the framework of the competitive struggle between the powers is not capable of bringing scientific and technological progress to a qualitatively new level.

The colonization of Mars is not a state or national project. This is a good motivational challenge for the entire terrestrial planetary civilization.

Why Mars

Well, if only because back in 1963 in the film "Toward a Dream" a song performed by V. Troshin claimed that apple trees would soon bloom on a neighboring planet. Now seriously.

The length of a day on Mars is approximately equal to that of Earth (24.6 hours). One revolution around the Sun takes about 687 days. with marked change of seasons. The climate on the planet is drier and colder. The temperature on the surface, taking into account seasonal and daily changes, lies in the range from -140˚С to +20˚С (average value is -50˚С). The thickness of the atmosphere of 110 km significantly reduces the effect of radioactive solar radiation. And although most of the air shell is carbon dioxide (95%), there are basic elements that will be required for the life support of people.

If we consider the Moon and Mars as objects for expansion, the colonization of the Earth's satellite is not capable of ensuring the sustainable evolution of the future civilization. Good example from history - the study of Greenland and the American continent in the era of the Great geographical campaigns. The largest island is certainly closer to Europe and has been known for a long time, but the extremely poor environment excludes any potential for development.

In addition to the noble task of uniting mankind and consolidating the efforts of all states for the implementation of the settlement of the "red planet", the project will solve many problems of the present and future of our space cradle:

  • Preservation of civilization and cultural heritage in the event of a global natural disaster on Earth.
  • The functioning of alien colonies will require bringing to a qualitatively new level not only industrial technologies, but also social ones. It will be necessary to develop and create fundamentally new social relations.
  • The outer space base will be a good starting point for flying and exploring the far reaches of the solar system.
  • The colonization of Mars is one of the options for solving demographic problems and a significant expansion of the resource base.
  • The Red Planet is an excellent testing ground for testing new energy sources, developing planetary engineering, climate control practices, etc.

Perhaps, from a commercial point of view, the colonization of Mars does not promise momentary profit. Space still holds many mysteries, disappointments and discoveries.

Where to begin

No matter how trite it sounds - from a detailed study of the planet. According to statistics, more than 2/3 of all launches of space probes to Mars ended in failure. To date, six interplanetary automatic stations are in Martian orbits, two rovers surf the planet's surface, and this is clearly not enough. It is necessary to carefully study the atmosphere, landscape, resource availability of the planet, at least in the places of the proposed landing.

The most promising for development, according to scientists, are the equatorial regions of Mars, and explored water reserves (in the form of ice) are concentrated in high latitudes. If further study of the planet's hydrosphere does not bring positive results, then ensuring water resources the first settlers can become a serious problem.

No problems - there are tasks

Experts say that with appropriate funding for the project, it is possible to fly to Mars even tomorrow. Colonization involves the solution of several very important issues.

It is worth considering options for adapting immigrants to the gravity of the planet. It is significantly lower than usual for earthlings (38%). For a person, this threatens with atrophy of muscle tissue and a decrease in the density of bone formations. Degenerative changes can lead to a serious disease - osteoporosis.

The atmosphere of the red planet is an order of magnitude thinner than the earth's and there is practically no magnetic field. If you do not use protective equipment, in a couple of days on Mars you can get the same dose of radiation as on Earth in a year.

Another difficulty is the huge distance. Earth technology does not allow reaching the nearest outer planet faster than 250 days. Work on the creation of more efficient engines for such a flight is being carried out at the private corporation SpaceX. The minimum time for the exchange of radio messages between the Earth and the Martian station is 6.2 minutes. (maximum - up to 45 minutes).

The listed negative factors in the condemnation of the project are often used by public criticism. The colonization of Mars should start precisely with the study of these issues.

Word and deed

There are a lot of options and projects for settling the Martian expanses. The founder and chief engineer of SpaceX (USA) - Elon Musk, at the 67th Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (2016, Guadalajara, Mexico), shared his plans for the exploration of Mars. In 2018, the Red Dragon mission starts, which will send the first cargo and equipment to the planet. Design documentation for a ship capable of delivering up to 100 colonizers and 450 tons of luggage is ready. The resource of the ship is up to 15 flights to Mars. Colonization, according to the SpaceX option, will take from 40 to 100 years, by the end of which the population of the alien base could reach a million people. Elon Musk is convinced that the first people will set foot on the red planet no later than 2022.

Online colonization

About the serious intentions of his "brainchild" assures the head of the private project Mars One Bas Lansdorp (Netherlands). Funding is based on income from television broadcasts of the selection of volunteers, ground training, flight and landing on Mars ("Dom-2" on a space scale).

By 2015, out of more than 200 thousand people wishing to say goodbye to the Earth, 100 candidates were selected, including 5 Russians. The result of further tests will be the acquisition of six groups of 4 people. The launch of an interplanetary communications satellite is scheduled for 2018. Then, at intervals of two years, an automated rover and a life support cargo ship will go to Mars. Crews are planned to be sent at the same interval. The first one will land in the red expanses, according to the organizers' plans, in 2025.

Many specialists have a critical attitude not only to the technical component of the project, but also to the financial and organizational.

Project №11

Domestic politicians and the scientific and technical elite are also convinced that the colonization of Mars would serve as a good incentive for the development of Russia. "Project State" - a portal of public initiatives to create a powerful world power, assigns this project a leading role in the work of the Far Eastern Space Center (Cosmodrome "Vostochny").

According to the founder and organizer of the resource, Yuri Krupnov, our country has lost its leadership in the exploration of outer space, being satisfied with the role of a "space driver". In the US and Europe, there is a rapid renewal of the rocket and space fleet. Their own powerful launch vehicles will allow Western partners to leave Russia "overboard" in many international programs. It's a shame that neither Roskosmos nor the government has any strategic space research program.

P.S. Let's hope that "Phobos Grunt 2" will successfully carry out its mission, and will not burn up in the dense layers of the atmosphere (like its predecessor under No. 1) at the very beginning of the journey!


In the comments to the last post, a lot of people flared up various versions about the colonization of Mars. This article contains more detailed information about each point of the upcoming mission, so that you can finally strengthen your point of view on this issue.

About the Mars One project

Mars One is a private organization whose task is to establish a colony on Mars using ready-made technologies. This is the first project that plans to finance such a global operation through real-time TV broadcasts, from the selection of astronauts on Earth to the solution of complex technical tasks on the surface of Mars.

Goals

Many people believe that the desire to explore solar system is a much more important achievement for all mankind than the local desires of individual nations. Like the Apollo moon landings, a human mission to Mars will make it clear to our generations that anything is possible in this world. The Mars One team believes not only in opportunity this mission, but also in the fact that they obliged do everything possible to accelerate our understanding of the formation of the cosmos, the origin of life, and, last but not least, our raison d'etre in the universe.

Working mission

In 2011, the creation of the first plans began. During the first year, negotiations were held with many space agencies and corporations to test this idea for strength. Response letters showed a deep interest in the project.
Since this would be too expensive for corporations, and too risky for government enterprises, Mars One decided to take the path of integrating separate branches of existing technologies.

Technologies

The plan is based on current technology from trusted vendors. The project itself is not an aerospace company and does not manufacture the equipment needed for the mission. All equipment will be developed by third parties and then combined into a single whole.
A complete mission kit will contain the following:
  • Launcher. This type of rocket will be used to deliver a payload from earth to orbit (or from orbit to Mars). The plan is to use the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket (an improved version of the Falcon 9 that SpaceX currently uses).
  • Mars transit module. The module will be responsible for the delivery of astronauts to Mars. It will consist of two fuel systems, a landing system and living quarters.
  • Descent vehicle. The Mars One team proposes using an extended version of the DragonCapsule, first tested in 2010. This is the same capsule that successfully docked with the ISS (International Space Station) in May 2012. The Martian mission will require a slightly expanded model of it, which will include:
    Life support module, which will contain air, water and energy generation systems
    The power module that will contain the food
    Biosphere module, which will store special inflatable sections that will allow the creation of large habitable areas on the surface of Mars
    Travel module in which astronauts will spend seven months before landing on the planet
    Mars rover module

rovers

In the role of the rover, it is planned to use a large semi-autonomous system with solar power, the tasks of which will include:
  • Intelligence service
  • Quick collection of small vehicles
  • Transportation of large hardware components
  • General assembly of large structures
Thus, it will rather not be a rover (in our usual sense), but a mobile factory on wheels.

martian suit

All astronauts will be required to wear suits when exposed to the Martian atmosphere. Like those used on the Moon, the suits will protect astronauts from extreme temperatures, thin airless atmospheres and harmful radiation.

Communication system

The system will transmit video streams along the chain Mars - communication satellite - Earth

Humanity on Mars

Tell you about something like this - "we are going to fly to Mars for permanent life" - you will have questions:
  • How will astronauts leave Earth? This is madness!
  • How will they prepare for life on Mars?
  • What can happen in seven months of travel?
  • What will astronauts do when they are away from home?
Let's try to answer these questions and more.

Emigration to Mars

Buying a one-way ticket is always more profitable than taking care of the return trip as well, but what do astronauts think about this? Everything will depend on who you ask. It is easy to see that most people would rather lose a leg than stay on a cold dangerous planet, saying "bye bye" to all their family and friends (with girlfriends translator's note), and knowing that they would never face them again after the Spartan journey to the Red Planet. However, there are also people for whom a trip to Mars is an old long-term dream. They are ready to face the planet one on one. For them it is unique opportunity research new world, conduct hitherto unknown experiments, build a new home for Mankind and come face to face with the Unknown.
The Mars One team will give everyone the opportunity to join the ranks of astronauts. Are you the one who dreams about it? Then read on to find out what's in store for you! Would you rather lose your leg than go on such an adventure? Read on and make sure you make the right choice!

Training

Each astronaut will participate in a mandatory ten-year training session. It will include numerous aptitude tests in a group of four. These tests will be carried out in a confined space for several months. The purpose of this is to understand how a certain person reacts to close proximity with the rest of the team. In addition to this, colonizers must learn many new skills. In the end, these people will be responsible for every aspect of the Martian colony: repairs, growing crops, as well as many different medical little things like fractures. (a dubious phenomenon in Martian gravity. approx. translator)

One way trip

The flight will take seven months. The astronauts will spend all this time in a very small space - much smaller than the main base will provide, moreover - without much luxury and frills. This will not be an easy task. The shower is not included in the program in advance - only wet wipes like the visitors of the International space station. The main friends of the astronauts at this time are canned meat, the constant noise of fans and a three-hour warm-up. Against this background, getting into a solar storm will be a significant adventure - after all, you can panic a bit and hide in a compartment with solar protection for a couple of days. There is no doubt that the trip will be tough, but the astronauts will endure - after all, this is a trip to their dream (dream can be translated as a dream, including in a negative context. approx. translator).

Living on Mars

Upon arrival on Mars, the astronauts will move into more comfortable rooms (50 square meters per person, with a total area of ​​200 for the entire team). These rooms will be based on inflatable components - a bedroom, a work area, a living room, a greenhouse for growing greenery. Thanks to these components, the colonists will be able to take a shower like everyone else. normal people cook fresh food, wear normal clothes, and lead an essentially normal life. The whole complex will be connected by a network of passages, but if someone wants to leave the base, he will need to put on a special suit. The installation of the residential complex will not take much time, and as soon as the task is solved, construction and research can begin.

Construction and research

Several main life support modules will arrive on Mars along with the first team of settlers. The task of the team will also include the preparation of modules for the following groups of people. All new modules from Earth will be gradually connected to the main base. Some of them will be duplicated for greater security and just for comfort. After some time, the colonists will have to take care of the construction of additional housing from local materials.
The planet will be rich in the amount of research needed. Astronauts will begin to study the effect of Mars on plants and own bodies solve many geological and biological problems. Who knows in free time they might think: was there life on Mars before them?

Online broadcasts and television

All activities of the astronauts will be broadcast in real time to Earth. You will be able to keep abreast of all recent events (response time is about half an hour, without adjusting for data size approx. translator), as well as occasionally listening to the stories of the astronauts, who will definitely have something to say. What happens when you go to the surface? What is "adventure"? What does it feel like to experience gravity that is only 40% of Earth's? Answers to these and many other questions will be received very soon.

Expansion

New groups of people are planned to land on Mars every two years. The size of the settlement will grow steadily. A little later, many of the living modules will be completed using local materials, so they will be large enough for a comfortable stay. The increase in the settlement will also have a beneficial effect on the condition of the colonists, since they will have the opportunity to social life along with hard work.

Is it really possible?

Mars One is not the first organization to dream of a human mission to Mars. Many had similar plans. And yet, there was no success. Why should Mars One be successful?

Emigration

Traveling to Mars is a one way trip. This fundamentally changes the requirements for the mission, completely removing the need to return equipment to Earth, which leads to a sharp decrease in the cost of the flight. Mars will become the new home for the colonists, where they will live and work, probably for the rest of their lives.
Although there is a small possibility of returning home, you should not think about it seriously. Returning a man to Earth would require several built and fully fueled rockets, each of which would be capable of a round-trip flight of a total duration of 14 months. It will cost significantly more than a one-way trip.
In addition, do not forget about gravity. After several years of living on Mars, a person will be unable to return to Earth. This is due to irreversible physiological changes in the body, such as a decrease in density bone tissue, loss of muscle strength and a decrease in the potential of the circulatory system. Even after small trip cosmonauts got to their feet at the Mir station for two years, to say nothing about Mars.
Thus, subject to permanent residence on Mars, all problems boil down to providing the foundations for life: clean air, drinking water, food, and artificial plant growth support (for the first time)
While this all sounds complicated, the Mars One project can actually be implemented today. Humanity already owns the necessary technologies. Many of the data obtained from past space experiments can be applied to this mission.
In addition, Mars contains some essential elements and fossils. For the first settlement, for example, a site is chosen that contains water ice in the soil. This water can be used for drinking, bathing, irrigating fodder crops, and also for creating oxygen. Mars has natural springs nitrogen - the main element of which is in the air (80%) - we breathe.

Solar panels

With this simple, reliable and plentiful source of energy, it is possible to completely eliminate the development and launch of a nuclear reactor, while saving time and money, and reducing the risk in use. Solar panels will be a good light source of energy - after all, the colony does not need heavy fuels to launch rockets back. The first settlement will have to cover an area of ​​about 3,000 square meters with solar panels. Although Mars is significantly farther from the Sun than Earth, it has a thinner atmosphere. As a result of this compensation, a sufficient amount of energy reaches the surface - about 500 W per square meter(to Earth - 1000 W). In the early years, the batteries will be located exclusively on the surface of the planet. As power decreases due to dust deposits, a special robot will clean them.

Simple rovers

By using relatively simple rovers, money is saved that could have been spent on developing more complex systems. Such machines were chosen, which, although they allow you to comfortably move around the territory, are not able to maintain the atmosphere and pressure inside their hull - this will become the concern of the Martian suits. This choice is optimal, as it significantly reduces the cost of development and delivery. The rover will allow astronauts to travel up to 80 kilometers a day. It's not really about the rover - the battery on board holds a significant amount of energy - but the suits, alas, are not designed for work lasting more than 8 hours. The speed of the rover will not exceed 10 km per hour under direct control and will be even less with automatic control. Although this seems too small, it will be possible to explore about 5000 square kilometers in a year (when calculating, take into account the viewing range, and the corresponding route changes. approx. translator). Don't forget also that we are talking about the factory-on-wheels rover.

Lack of latest developments

The whole plan revolves around the use of real-life, time-tested technologies. Even if a component is not in stock, it is only a short matter of time, because there is no need for a fundamental change in the part. All suppliers have confirmed their readiness to build the necessary components right now.

Lack of politics

The only selection criterion is the balance of price and quality. The project is not interested in the nation of the supplier. This distinguishes it from large corporations that dictate their external and internal politics based on many personal factors. Does it provide substantial assurance? good quality and prices? No!

Thus, the theoretical basis for the start is quite ready. What's next for us? Time will show.
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