micromachines on mars

dragon · Post by **dragon** » 2005-05-11 10:56am

Some new ideas using microscale machines to produce fuel and air while on mars. Sounds like interesting idea. Combine these with the new NASA Robonauts, spray on space suits and spray on soloar cells makes a trip to Mars more and more feasable.

Two teams of researchers are hoping their tiny devices will mean big leaps for future Mars-bound humans, allowing them to carry powerful computers and generate life support materials from the planet’s atmosphere.

In one corner, NASA-funded scientists are tweaking microtechnology to produce compact systems that produce breathing oxygen or rocket propellant, vital components of any manned space mission.

“We’re looking at collecting the carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere and breaking it down for [crew needs],” said Batelle researcher Kriston Brooks, principal investigator of the study at Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), where NASA has awarded a contract to develop the technology.

The goal, Brooks added, is to wrangle microtechnology into a usable system that would generate propellant for astronauts aboard a manned mission to Mars by 2030, a goal set by NASA’s space vision of renewing human space exploration outside Earth orbit

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology ... 50511.html

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-05-11 11:37am

This will feature greatly advanced biotechnology given the key functions of these MEMS and nanomachines are based on microbial metabolic activity. Good to see self-sustaining missions looking closer.

wolveraptor · Post by **wolveraptor** » 2005-05-11 05:42pm

I hope they follow up with stuff like Biosphere 3, because I don't think terra-forming Mars is possible until we have a firm foot-hold in space.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » 2005-05-12 10:46am

wolveraptor wrote:I hope they follow up with stuff like Biosphere 3, because I don't think terra-forming Mars is possible until we have a firm foot-hold in space.

I rember a while back several scientist said that it would be quicker to Terrform Venus as it already has an atmosphere. Now wheater or not these scientist aren't the same type of scientist that say cold fusion is possible I'll leave that to the experts to debate.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-05-12 11:00am

Terraform Venus? And what about an encore? Maybe building a Culture orbital as well perhaps.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » 2005-05-12 11:39am

Admiral Valdemar wrote:Terraform Venus? And what about an encore? Maybe building a Culture orbital as well perhaps.

See I knew someone would know if they were blowing bs out their ears.