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Subject: preliminary proposal
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 19:35:16 -0000 (GMT)
From: Terry Kok |
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PRELIMINARY PREPOSAL
September 11th, 2000 CE
topic: CELSS testbed for attachment to the Flashline
Mars Arctic Research Station
presenter: Terry Ryan Kok
Green CELSS Task Force
biostar_a@yahoo.com
(812) 275-0694
PO Box 1328, Bloomington, IN 47402-1328
Introduction
There exists a fundamental need for waste treatment,
resource recovery, and food production to support
human life on Mars. It is recognized that the first
missions to Mars will be exploratory in nature. Size
and weight of the on-Mars life support system is a
prime consideration. The Flashline Mars Arctic
Research Station (and other Mars analog test sites)
provide key opportunities to test potential advanced
life support technologies and to perform essential
related studies which will provide the hands-on
experience and hard won knowledge which will lead
to actual Mars exploration and potential
colonization.
The Green CELSS Task Force (CTF) has competed
an exhaustive study of past and current life support
test beds (BIOS 1/2/3, Biosphere2, BIO-PLEX,
Biostar-A, etc.) and of peer-reviewed papers on life
support technologies, including all aspects of
providing sustainable life support for missions to
Mars. It is clear that a CELSS (Controlled
Ecological Life Support System), backed up and
coupled to the in-transit chemical-physical life
support system, is the "way to go" in all aspects
(weight/mass/size, reliability, etc.). The CTF can
supply a state-of-the-art design for a low cost, light
weight, fully functional and reliable "modular
biosphere" style CELSS potentially capable of
providing 100% recycling and resource reclamation
of organic matter, liquid wastes, and atmospheric
gasses, while supplying a constant source of fresh
air, clean water, and nutritious food for the
inhabitants of the Flashline MARS habitation
module.
It is proposed that we construct, as a first unit test
bed, a 2 person inflatable modular CELSS. This will
enable us to keep the cost/weight/size low and will
allow us, in the future, to add more and/or a larger
unit(s) to supply the needs of a full-scale (6 person)
crew. A 2 person module (designed for seasonal
deployment at Haughton Crater) must meet the
following criteria:
1) total weight: under 2000 lbs
2) packing/transport size: The whole CELSS
system, including containment vessel, composting
unit, and internal plant beds should measure (fully
packed and ready to deploy) no more than 2 cubic
meters. We are aiming to produce a unit which may
be as small, when packed, as 1 cubic meter.
3) ease of deployment and disassembly: The CELSS
containment vessel (greenhouse shell) must be able
to be deployed by 2 people in less than 2 hours and
be dissassembled/repacked in less than 2 hours.
Set-up and break-down of internal plant beds and
plumbing must be accomplished in less than 6 hours.
4) durability: The CELSS must be UV resistant,
puncture and rip-proof, be able to withstand
temperatures between the average low (February) of
- -36/-33°F and the average high (July) of 43/46°F,
and should have a materials lifespan of at least 3
years. The CELSS must be able to be deployed on a
stone, dirt, or sandy surface swept clean of rocks.
5) functionality: The CELSS must be capable of
providing 100% recycling and resource reclamation
of organic matter, liquid wastes, and atmospheric
gasses, while supplying a constant source of fresh
air, clean water, and nutritious food for 2 of the
inhabitants of the Flashline MARS habitation
module.
6) cost: It is estimated that the three primary
components of an F-MARS CELSS (greenhouse,
plant beds, composting unit), designed for 60-90
days of summer use (no auxilary lighting required),
should cost no more than $10,000 dollars and maybe
as little as $5000. Detailed cost estimates will be
available as this project progresses. The addition of
a fully functional "environmental controls and
monitoring system" and an auxilary select spectrum
LED lighting system (unnecessary for first year
studies) would, at the most, increase costs by no
more than $5000.
7) after deployment size: 16' wide by 32' long by 8"
high
8) time from deployment until use: It is a difficult
challenge to bring an ecosystem into existance and
up to fully functioning/waste treating capacity. We
are aiming at having the F-MARS CELSS ready for
first use within 10 days of initial deployment. This
can be accomplished by utilizing a high percentage
of edible grasses and fast-track vegetable greens
(lettuce, spinach, etc.) rather than plants which
have
a longer growth period.
POTENTIAL ANALOG STUDIES
The F-MARS CELSS will prove to be an effective
tool, not only for its life supporting qualities, but
also as a facility where we may conduct necessary
analog studies such as:
1) cultivation strategies, techniques, ergonomics,
and time/use
2) food preparation. processing, preservation, and
diet
3) CELSS sizing (in relationship to crew size)
4) ecosystem mechanics: internal
layout/accessibility, plumbing, lighting, system
integration
5) CELSS construction techniques and materials
science
CURRENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
STATUS
The CTF has been busy contacting a variety of
materials science specialists, manufactures, and
fabricators to see if there is interest in helping
with
the project, including potential funding, available
materials, and the skills needed to fabricate the
CELSS. Fabrication of parts (inflatable greenhouse,
composter, and plants beds) should pose few
technical problems. On the other hand, most of the
companies we've approached seem reluctant to
invest their funds in the project without some sort of
contract guaranteeing them prominent placement of
their name and logo on the CELSS in exchange for
their funding and expertise.
=====
Terry Ryan Kok - scientist, ecotechnician, wizard
Elf Lore Family ELDER - Sanctuary Rock facilitator
Green CELSS Task Force focalizer
Starlight Technology: (812) 275-0694
biostar_a@yahoo.com
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Mars Society Life Support Task Force
Email - life-support@chapters.marssociety.org
http://home.marssociety.org/tech/life-support/
Arctic Base - http://arctic.marssociety.org/ |
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