Mars Fueling Station
Have you ever wanted a rocket pack to soar amongst the sky? Now you can … on Mars… Gravity is less, atmospheric density is less, and the vistas are breathtaking. So come to Mars...
Buck Rogers aside, Mars is an interesting environment for out-of-this-world mobility options for an explorer. This challenge asks for the definition of a conceptual mobility solution to allow an astronaut to easily and rapidly explore Mars including overcoming obstacles such as cliffs, ravines and other difficult terrain. The solution should be person-portable and any means or source of propulsion be locally produced.
This challenge can be answered by:
- producing an app to simulate your adventures in building your jet pack and flying around Mars;
- produce an app that provides the local gravity, atmospheric conditions (density, weather, anything-else-of-interest) to help decide what is needed for your jet pack design;
- perform a feasibility/conceptual study of an actual jet pack design that could use potential Mars fuel sources; or Design and Demonstrate a model scale jet pack using hardware.
Our Solution that solved the in situ resource utilization came mainly from a research paper that proposes solution for creating oxidizable fuel on Mars. Mainly a refueling station on the martian land will utilize the Water and CO2 present in the Martian Atmosphere and soil to produce Methane and liquified Oxygen.
The jet pack will consist of:
**The Jetpack's body (Carbon fiber)
**One liquid propellant (Methane) rocket engine with 2 movable exhaust nozzles (will move by the controllers in the astronaut's hand to change his direction)
** The Astronaut's suit should be able to resist high temperatures
** The steady flight speed (1 m/s)
The Jetpack's size 60 *60*30 cm
The refillable tank size 50*50*20 cm
Details:
Equipment 1 kg/hour production equip. weight Calculations of our model
Electrolysis Cell -------- 1.875 kW --------------- 60 kg------------------------ 0.0937 kW
Refrigerator ------------- 0.550 kW ---------------- 90 kg-------27.5 kW
Soil Water Processor --- 0.050 kW--------------- 25 kg--------2.5*10^-3 kW
Pumps ------------------ 0.020 kW ---------------- 7 kg-------- 0.001 kW
CO 2 Collector -------- 0.015 kW ---------------45 kg-------- 7.5*10^-4 kW
Mini
Rovers -------------0.010 kW ----------------25 kg ------- 5*10^-4 kW
Radiators 45 kg
Methanator 40 kg
Total 2.515 kW 337 kg
Total power for our mission: 0.28 kW
Solar Panel ----- Gallium Arsenide ------ (40% effeciency) ---
6*6 Meters
by using foldable solar panels for storing the panels in the space shuttle for
more space effeciency. ---- Producing total of 8.352 Kw, 5.328 kW will be
stored in batteries in order to secure energy sources in the times where
there's lack of solar energy. Solar cell arrays are supplied with a robotic arm to clean the panels whenever the
detectors detect (above acceptable) amount of dust.
