Cockell, Charles

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Open Research OnlineThe Open University’s repository of research publicationsand other research outputsChallenges and solutions for the human exploration ofthe Martian polesConference or Workshop ItemHow to cite:Cockell, Charles (2003). Challenges and solutions for the human exploration of the Martian poles. In: ThirdInternational Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration, 13-17 Oct 2003.For guidance on citations see FAQs.c© [not recorded]Version: [not recorded]Link(s) to article on publisher’s website:http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/polar2003/pdf/8126.pdfCopyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyrightowners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policiespage.oro.open.ac.ukCHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF THE MARTIAN POLES. Charles Cockell, SETI Institute, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000.  Introduction:  The Martian poles present special chal-lenges for human scientific expeditions that bear simi-larities to operations in terrestrial polar regions. These challenges include mobility on snows and ices, the problem of accommodation in the deep field, methods for the use of local resources and problems of station maintenance.  Because the polar regions are dynamic, substantial volatile sinks, the exploration of the polar regions by humans is a potentially high priority explo-ration goal. Furthermore, the high astrobiological po-tential of these regions makes them attractive targets for human exploration.          The exploration of the Martian poles might begin in the earliest stages of a human presence on the planet or missions of exploration might be launched from lower-latitude stations that would avoid the 9-month 24 hr darkness of polar winter, which imposes substan-tial long-term safety problems. Mobility: I describe a series of concepts in response to these challenges [1-3]. Mobility on Martian snows and ices can be achieved with pressurized tracked rovers or unpressurized skidoos using methane or other fuels readily made from CO2 and H20, both abundantly available at the poles.  Materials and supplies can be carried by Nansen sledge in an analogous way to Earth. By heating the underside of the sledges, a sub-limed vapor layer can be used to assist in mobility and reduce the chances of freezing to the polar substratum (‘polar hover’). Field stations: Field stations, depots and deep-field sites can be realized with pressurized ‘ball’ tents that allow two scientists to rest within a pressurized, heated environment. Larger versions of such easily assembled stations (‘ball field stations’) can be used for emergen-cies and the establishment of short-term camps on the polar ice caps. An augmentation of the ball tent is the Migloo -  Martian igloo assembled from a pressurized tent surrounded with blocks of ice that can be used as a Solar Particle Event shelter, the ice reduces the radia-tion flux. These structures may also find use in deploy-ing robust depots across the polar caps. In-situ resourse use: Liquid water for drinking and for fuel and oxygen production can be gathered from the poles by two means – either 1) subliming the ice and snow by heating it and gathering the vapor for use in various manfacturing processes. This can be achieved with innovations such as ‘sublimation net-ting’ (Figure 1), a network of hollow, heated fibres that heat the ice and snow and draw it into a vacuum system or 2) pressurizing blocks of cut snow and ice and then heating directly into a liquid state, thus avoid-ing the cost of the latent heat of vaporisation.     Figure 1. Sublimation netting can be used to gather water for in-situ resource utilization at the Martian poles.  Trans-polar assaults: As well as scientific explora-tion at specific points on the polar caps, future expedi-tions might be launched as exploratory trans-polar expeditions across the Martian poles. These expedi-tions would gather samples across a polar transect and complete traverses that in distance are similar to Trans-polar Antarctic expeditions. I discuss operations at the Martian poles during the 24 hr darkness of polar win-ter and the challenges presented to overwintering op-erations.    Figure 2. Trans-polar expeditions provide opportu-nities for polar sampling and purely exploration-driven assaults.  References: [1] C.S. Cockell, (1995) JBIS, 48, 359-368. [2] C.S. Cockell, (2001) Acta Astronautica, 49, 693-706. [3] C.S. Cockell and A.A. Ellery, (2003) JBIS, 56, 33-42. Third Mars Polar Science Conference (2003) 8126.pdf

Challenges and solutions for the human exploration of the Martian poles

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Challenges and solutions for the human exploration of the Martian poles

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