PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF MARS BASING

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to focus attention on the design and construction problems for a Martian base. An immediate, prefabricated, inflatable shelter is proposed for the first crew that lands on Mars which will serve for headquarters while additional base construction is performed. The use of indigenous materials for structures is proposed where possible to reduce transportation and construction costs. Prefabricated structures are advocated from imported materials, using steel, aluminum, wood, wood products, plastics, rubber fabrics or polyurethane plastics. Block construction could be used with either imported cements or with blocks and cements manufactured from Martian materials. The design and construction of basing facilities on Mars appears to be within the limits of present technologies, but it is emphasized that designs proposed herein will probably require considerable modification as more information about the environment and available materials on Mars is obtained.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0405556

Entities

People

  • Percy H. Bliss

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Attenuation
  • Concrete
  • Construction
  • Construction Materials
  • Cosmic Rays
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Inflatable Structures
  • Materials
  • Plastics
  • Radiation
  • Radio Communications
  • Solar Flares
  • Solar Radiation
  • Surface Temperature
  • Transportation
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Facility/Structural Engineering.
  • Industrial Economics
  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.