Mars suit

Last updated
NASA Z-2 spacesuit prototype, which includes technologies in support of developing Martian EVA suits NASA Z-2 spacesuit prototype.jpg
NASA Z-2 spacesuit prototype, which includes technologies in support of developing Martian EVA suits

A Mars suit or Mars space suit is a space suit for EVAs on the planet Mars. [2] [3] Compared to a suit designed for space-walking in the near vacuum of low Earth orbit, Mars suits have a greater focus on actual walking and a need for abrasion resistance. [2] Mars' surface gravity is 37.8% of Earth's, approximately 2.3 times that of the Moon, so weight is a significant concern, but there are fewer thermal demands compared to open space. [4] At the surface the suits would contend with the atmosphere of Mars, which has a pressure of about 0.6 to 1 kilopascal (0.087 to 0.145 psi). [5] On the surface, radiation exposure is a concern, especially solar flare events, which can dramatically increase the amount of radiation over a short time.

Contents

Some of the issues a Mars suit for surface operations would face include having enough oxygen for the person as the air is mostly carbon dioxide; in addition the air is also at a much lower pressure than Earth's atmosphere at sea level. [6] Other issues include the Martian dust, low temperatures, and radiation. [6]

Overview

Mars suit's footwear would presumably make direct contact with an extraterrestrial surface; lunar footprint shown. Apollo 11 bootprint - GPN-2001-000014.jpg
Mars suit's footwear would presumably make direct contact with an extraterrestrial surface; lunar footprint shown.
Rover tracks on Mars PIA22928-MarsOpportunityRover-BackTrackView-20100804.jpg
Rover tracks on Mars

One design for a Mars suit from the 2010s, the NASA Z-2 suit, would have electroluminescent patches to help crew members identify one another. [7] Three types of tests planned for the Z-2 include tests in a vacuum chamber, tests in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (a large pool for mimicking zero-g), and tests in a rocky desert area. [8] (See also: Z series space suits.)

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has a materials test that is hoped will aid Mars suit development, the SHERLOC experiment; it includes a test target with space suit materials. [9] The test will measure how these suit materials are affected by the Martian environment. [9] Six materials have been chosen for testing: Orthofabric, Teflon, nGimat-coated Teflon, Dacron, Vectran, and Polycarbonate. [10] The test will help select the best materials for future Mars space suits. [10] Orthofabric is a polymeric material composed of a weave of GORE-TEX fibers, Nomex, and Kevlar-29. [11]

NASA tested possible Mars space suit materials by exposing them to Mars-equivalent ultraviolet (UV) radiation for 2500 hours, and then studied how the materials were affected. [12] One of the concerns for the Mars suits is how materials respond to chemically reactive Mars dust and exposure to ultraviolet, especially over the lengths of time and amount of use the suits are expected to function. [13]

One researcher working on a design for Mars surface EVA suits was inspired in part by Medieval armor suits. [14] Some ideas for a Mars suits are a Heads-up display projected in the visor, built-in communications equipment, life support, and a voice-recognition assistant. [14]

Examples of design concerns: [14]

One Mars mission design aspect is whether the Mars suits should also be made to work in space, or should be for the surface only. [4]

Designs

NASA AX-5 hard space suit NASA Ames-X5 hard space suit.jpg
NASA AX-5 hard space suit

The Biosuit is a mechanical counterpressure suit, resulting in a body hugging form. [16] In this type of suit, the pressure would come from the structure and elasticity of the material, whereas with prior space-worn suits the pressure comes from pressurized gas, like a filled balloon. [17] The gas pressure can make a flexible suit very rigid, like an inflated balloon. [17]

The Aoudo suit by the Austrian Space Forum is a space suit simulator for planetary surfaces. [18] The suit ventilates with ambient air, but has a host of features to help simulate a space suit as well as tests enhancing technologies like a heads-up display inside the helmet. [19] The AX-5 was part of a line of hard-suits developed at NASA Ames. Current suits are either soft or hybrid suits and use a lower-pressure pure oxygen atmosphere, which means people going on EVA must pre-breathe oxygen to avoid getting decompression sickness. A hard-suit can use a high-pressure atmosphere, eliminating the need to pre-breathe, but without being too hard to move like a high pressure soft suit would be.

A simulated Mars suit was used for the HI-SEAS Earth-based spaceflight analog tests of the 2010s in Hawaii, USA. [20]

Mars suit design has been used as a topic for technology education. [21]

Comparison to Apollo lunar suit

Apollo Extravehicular Mobility Unit (lunar suit), from Apollo 17 Apollo 17 Cernan on moon cropped.jpg
Apollo Extravehicular Mobility Unit (lunar suit), from Apollo 17

The Apollo lunar EVA suit was called the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Besides the pressure suit, this included the Portable Life Support System (backpack) and an emergency Oxygen Purge System (OPS) which provided 30 minutes of oxygen for emergency. The combined system weighed 212 pounds on Earth, but only 35.1 pounds on the Moon. [22]

Weights of the components of the Apollo Extravehicular Mobility Unit on different astronomical bodies, given as the equivalent masses on Earth
EarthMoonMars
Gravity (relative to Earth's)100%16.54%37.9%
Suit35 kg (78 lb)5.9 kg (12.9 lb)13.4 kg (29.6 lb)
PLSS 42 kg (93 lb)7.0 kg (15.4 lb)16.0 kg (35.2 lb)
Oxygen Purge System19 kg (41 lb)3.1 kg (6.8 lb)7.0 kg (15.5 lb)
Total96 kg (212 lb)15.9 kg (35.1 lb)36.4 kg (80.3 lb)

Environmental design requirements

The most critical factors for immediate survivability and comfort on the Martian surface are to provide: sufficient pressure to prevent the boiling of body fluids; supply of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide and water vapor for breathing; temperature control; and protection from cosmic radiation.

Pressure

Partial pressure suit for high-altitude flight U-2PressureSuitHelmet.jpg
Partial pressure suit for high-altitude flight

The atmospheric pressure on Mars varies with elevation and seasons, but there is not enough pressure to sustain life without a pressure suit. The lowest pressure the human body can tolerate, known as the Armstrong limit, is the pressure at which water boils (vaporizes) at the temperature of a human body, which is about 6.3 kilopascals (0.91 psi). [23] The average surface pressure on Mars has been measured to be only about one-tenth of this, 0.61 kilopascals (0.088 psi). [24] The highest pressure, at the lowest surface elevation, the bottom of Hellas Basin, is 1.24 kilopascals (0.180 psi), about twice the average. [25] There is a seasonal variation over the Martian year (about two Earth years) as carbon dioxide (95.9% of the atmosphere) is sequentially frozen out, then sublimated back into the atmosphere when it is warmer, causing a global 0.2-kilopascal (0.029 psi) rise and fall in pressure. [24]

But the Martian atmosphere contains only 0.13–0.14% oxygen, [24] compared to 20.9% of Earth's atmosphere. Thus breathing the Martian atmosphere is impossible for almost any organism; oxygen must be supplied, at a pressure in excess of the Armstrong limit.

Breathing

Average composition of the Martian atmosphere PIA16460 Mars Atmosphere Gases 20121102.svg
Average composition of the Martian atmosphere

Humans take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide and water vapor when they breathe, and typically breathe between 12 and 20 times per minute at rest and up to 45 times per minute under high activity. [26] At standard sea level conditions on Earth of 101.33 kilopascals (14.697 psi), humans are breathing in 20.9% oxygen, at a partial pressure of 21.2 kilopascals (3.07 psi). This is the required oxygen supply corresponding to normal Earth conditions. Humans generally require supplemental oxygen at altitudes above 15,000 feet (4.6 km), [23] so the absolute minimum safe oxygen requirement is a partial pressure of 11.94 kilopascals (1.732 psi) [27] For reference, the Apollo EMU used an operating pressure of 25.5 kilopascals (3.70 psi) on the Moon. [28]

Exhaled breath on Earth normally contains about 4% carbon dioxide and 16% oxygen, along with 78% nitrogen, [29] plus about 0.2 to 0.3 liters of water. [30] [29] Carbon dioxide slowly becomes increasingly toxic in high concentrations, [31] and must be scrubbed from the breathing gas. [32] A concept to scrub carbon dioxide from breathing air is to use re-usable amine bead carbon dioxide scrubbers. [33] While one carbon dioxide scrubber filters the astronaut's air, the other can vent scrubbed carbon dioxide to the Mars atmosphere. Once that process is completed, another scrubber can be used, and the one that was used can take a break. [34] Another more traditional way to remove carbon dioxide from air is by a lithium hydroxide canister, but these need to be replaced periodically. [35] Carbon dioxide removal systems are a standard part of habitable spacecraft designs, although their specifics vary. [32] One idea to remove carbon dioxide is to use a zeolite molecular sieve, and then later the carbon dioxide can be removed from the material. [36]

If nitrogen is used to increase pressure as on the ISS, it is inert to humans, but can cause decompression sickness. [32] Space suits typically operate at low pressure to make their balloon-like structure easier to move, so astronauts must spend a long time getting the nitrogen out of their system. The Apollo missions used a pure oxygen atmosphere in space except on the ground, to reduce risk of fire. There is also interest in hard suits that can handle higher internal pressures but are more flexible, so astronauts do not have to get the nitrogen out of their system before going on a spacewalk.

Temperature

A graph of Mars surface temperature data from a Mars surface probe (rover) PIA16913-MarsCuriosityRover-SteadyTemperature-GaleCrater.jpg
A graph of Mars surface temperature data from a Mars surface probe (rover)

There can be large temperature swings on Mars; for example, at the equator, daytime temperature may reach 21 °C (70 °F) in the Martian summer, and drop down to −73 °C (−100 °F) at night. [37] According to a 1958 NASA report, long-term human comfort requires temperatures in the 4 to 35 °C (40 to 95 °F) range at 50% humidity. [38]

Radiation

On Earth, in developed nations, humans are exposed to about 0.6 rads (6 mGy) per year, [39] and aboard the International Space Station about 8 rads (80 mGy) per year. [39] Humans can tolerate up to about 200 rads (2 Gy) of radiation without incurring permanent damage; however, any radiation exposure carries risk so there is a focus on keeping exposure as low as possible. [39] On the surface of Mars there are two main types of radiation: A steady dose from a variety of sources and solar proton events that can cause a dramatic increase in the amount of radiation for a short time. [39] Solar flare events can cause a lethal dose to be delivered in hours if astronauts are caught unprotected, and this is a concern of NASA for human operations in space and on the surface of Mars. [40] Mars does not have a large magnetic field in the same way as Earth, which shields the Earth from radiation, especially from solar flares. [40] For example, the solar event which occurred on August 7, 1972, just 5 months after Apollo 16, produced so much radiation, including a wave of accelerated particles like protons, that NASA became concerned what would happen if such an event were to occur while astronauts were in space. [40] If the astronauts get too much radiation, it increases their lifetime cancer risk and they can get radiation poisoning. [41] Exposure to ionizing radiation can also cause cataracts, a problem with the eye. [42]

The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth's, so it does not stop as much radiation. [40]

The effect of radiation on medications taken on the mission is also of concern, especially if it alters their medical qualities. [43]

Additional design requirements

Operating in Mars suit on the surface creates a series of concerns for the human body, including an altered gravitational environment, a confined and isolated situation, a hostile exterior environment and closed environment inside, radiation, and extreme distance from Earth. [43]

An important consideration for the breathing air inside the suit, is that toxic gases do not get into the air supply. [43] Reduced gravity environments can alter the distribution of fluids inside the body. [43] One point of concern is changes in fine motor skill, especially if it interferes with the ability to use computer interfaces. [43]

Visors and UV

A gold-coated visor is deployed during this astronaut's EVA in Earth orbit. ISS-11 Phillips at EVA.jpg
A gold-coated visor is deployed during this astronaut's EVA in Earth orbit.

A thin layer of gold on the visor plastic bubble of current space helmets shields the face from harmful parts of the Sun's spectrum. [44] Visor designs, in general, have a design goal of allowing the astronaut to see, but block ultraviolet and heat, besides the pressure requirements. [45]

It has been detected that ultraviolet light does reach the surface of Mars. [46] Martian carbon dioxide tends to block ultraviolet light of wavelengths shorter than about 190 nm; however, above that there is less blocking depending on the amount of dust and Rayleigh scattering. [46] Significant amounts of UVB and UVC light are noted to reach the surface of Mars. [46]

Toilet and vomiting

A human consideration for suits is the need to eliminate bodily waste. [47] Various methods have been employed in suits, and in the Shuttle-era NASA used maximum absorbency garments to enable stays of 10 hours in space and partial pressure suits. [47]

Another concern is vomiting, which has increased occurrence in spaceflight. [48]

Martian dust

The Apollo Moon suit became covered in lunar regolith dust during moonwalks. Schmitt Covered with Lunar Dirt - GPN-2000-001124.jpg
The Apollo Moon suit became covered in lunar regolith dust during moonwalks.

Another consideration is what would happen if astronauts somehow breathe in Mars dust. The health effect of Mars dust is a concern, based on known information about it which includes that it may be abrasive and/or reactive. [49] Studies have been done with quartz dust and also compared it to lunar dust exposure. [49] An Apollo 17 astronaut complained of hay fever like symptoms after his Moon walk. [49] The lunar dust was known to cling to the space suits and be taken in with the astronauts when they came in to the Apollo Lunar Module. [50]

Use

The relative sizes of Deimos and Phobos as might be seen from the surface of Mars, compared to the relative size in the sky of the Moon as seen from Earth. Depending on the condition, a night time EVA would mean seeing the Martian moons in the night sky at Mars. PIA17351-ApparentSizes-MarsDeimosPhobos-EarthMoon.jpg
The relative sizes of Deimos and Phobos as might be seen from the surface of Mars, compared to the relative size in the sky of the Moon as seen from Earth. Depending on the condition, a night time EVA would mean seeing the Martian moons in the night sky at Mars.

An article in the magazine Nature noted that due to the reduced gravity, the dynamics of walking on Mars would be different than on Earth. [51] This is because people fall forward as part of their gait when moving, the motion of the center of body mass resembling that of an inverted pendulum. [51] Compared to the Earth, all else being equal it would be half the amount of work to move, but a walking speed on Mars would be 3.4 km per hour rather than 5.5 km per hour on Earth. [51] This data was produced by simulating Martian gravity for the duration of an aircraft following a flight profile that causes this type of acceleration. [51] The acceleration of gravity at the surface of Mars is calculated to be about 3.7 meters per second2. [52] It is not known if this reduced gravity causes the same kind of reduced muscle mass and biological effects as seen when living in microgravity aboard the ISS for several months. [52] The gravity is about 38% of Earth's gravity at the surface. [53]

Rock climbing tests with a low-pressure IVA (intra vehicle activity) suit were conducted in Oregon, USA. [54] The difficulty of grasping rock with gloves including moving fingers and gaining friction with rocks was noted, and ice climbing axes were helpful for climbing surfaces. [54] Mountaineering on Mars may be needed when the terrain environments exceeds the abilities of a rover vehicle, or to access a target of interest, or simply to get home to a base. [55] One common mountaineering need is a highly mobile short-stay shelter to use for overnight stays when climbing, such as a tent, and an equivalent for Mars might support the ability to get out of a space suit. [55] Suit design for climbing would likely be impacted by the needs for climbing including suit flexibility, especially in the hands and also in terms of durability. [55]

Another issue is the expected amount of use for the suits in probably human mission designs. [56] For example, as of the late 2010s there had been over 500 EVA's from the start of spaceflight, whereas a single mission to Mars is expected to need 1000 EVAs. [56]

Typical Mars mission plans note that a person wearing a Mars suit would need to enter a pressurized rover through an airlock. [57] Alternatively, a Mars suit would need to be worn on crewed unpressurized rovers to provide life support. [58] There are several different options for an egress and entry airlock for a space suit, one of which is to repressurize the entire compartment as on the Apollo lunar lander. [57] Some other ideas are suitport, crewlock, and transit airlock. [57]

Mars suits used in conjunction with other surface elements on Mars (artwork) PIA23302-FirstHumansOnMars-ArtistConcept.jpg
Mars suits used in conjunction with other surface elements on Mars (artwork)

Need

The NASA Authorization Act of 2017 directed NASA to get humans near or on the surface of Mars by the early 2030s. [59]

Suitport for Mars

Mars space suits have been explored for integration with airlock design that combines an airlock and suit entry and egress with another vehicle, and is commonly known as a suitport. [57] This has been considered as a way to integrate a crewed pressurized Mars rover with Mars space suit EVAs. [57]

The idea is that a person would slide into the suit through an airlock opening while the exterior of suit is outside the vehicle and exposed to the Martian environment. [60] Then, the hatch would be closed, sealing off the interior of the vehicle, and the person would be supported by the suit's life support system. [60] NASA tested the Z-1 space suit for extraterrestrial surface EVA with a suitport design in the 2010s. [61] In the NASA Z-1 design there is a hatch at the rear of the space suit that can be docked with a suitable vehicle or structure. [61]

Visions of Mars EVA

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space suit</span> Garment worn to keep a human alive in the harsh environment of outer space

A space suit or spacesuit is a garment worn to keep a human alive in the harsh environment of outer space, vacuum and temperature extremes. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extravehicular activity (EVA), work done outside spacecraft. Space suits have been worn for such work in Earth orbit, on the surface of the Moon, and en route back to Earth from the Moon. Modern space suits augment the basic pressure garment with a complex system of equipment and environmental systems designed to keep the wearer comfortable, and to minimize the effort required to bend the limbs, resisting a soft pressure garment's natural tendency to stiffen against the vacuum. A self-contained oxygen supply and environmental control system is frequently employed to allow complete freedom of movement, independent of the spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extravehicular Mobility Unit</span> Series of semi-rigid two-piece space suit models from the United States

The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is an independent anthropomorphic spacesuit that provides environmental protection, mobility, life support, and communications for astronauts performing extravehicular activity (EVA) in Earth orbit. Introduced in 1981, it is a two-piece semi-rigid suit, and is currently one of two types of EVA spacesuits used by crew members on the International Space Station (ISS), the other being the Russian Orlan space suit. It was used by NASA's Space Shuttle astronauts prior to the end of the Shuttle program in 2011.

<i>Quest</i> Joint Airlock Primary airlock for the International Space Station

The Quest Joint Airlock, previously known as the Joint Airlock Module, is the primary airlock for the International Space Station. Quest was designed to host spacewalks with both Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuits and Orlan space suits. The airlock was launched on STS-104 on July 14, 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caves of Mars Project</span> Program to assess the best place for research and habitation modules on Mars

The Caves of Mars Project was an early 2000s program funded through Phase II by the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts to assess the best place to situate the research and habitation modules that a human mission to Mars would require. The final report was published in mid 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonization of Mars</span> Proposed concepts for human settlements on Mars

Colonization or settlement of Mars is the theoretical migration of humans to Mars and the establishment of long-term human presence on the planet. The prospect has garnered interest from public space agencies and private corporations and has been extensively explored in science fiction writing, film, and art. Organizations have proposed plans for a human mission to Mars, the first step towards any colonization effort, but thus far no person has set foot on the planet, and there have been no return missions. However, landers and rovers have successfully explored the planetary surface and delivered information about conditions on the ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ILC Dover</span> American special engineering development and manufacturing company

ILC Dover, LP is a special engineering development and manufacturing company, globally headquartered in Frederica, Delaware. ILC Dover specializes in the use of high-performance flexible materials, serving the aerospace, personal protection, and pharmaceutical industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonization of Venus</span> Proposed colonization of the planet Venus

The colonization of Venus has been a subject of many works of science fiction since before the dawn of spaceflight, and is still discussed from both a fictional and a scientific standpoint. However, with the discovery of Venus's extremely hostile surface environment, attention has largely shifted towards the colonization of the Moon and Mars instead, with proposals for Venus focused on habitats floating in the upper-middle atmosphere and on terraforming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmosphere of Mars</span> Layer of gases surrounding the planet Mars

The atmosphere of Mars is the layer of gases surrounding Mars. It is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95%), molecular nitrogen (2.85%), and argon (2%). It also contains trace levels of water vapor, oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and noble gases. The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner and colder than Earth's having a max density 20g/m3 with a temperature generally below zero down to -60 Celsius. The average surface pressure is about 610 pascals (0.088 psi) which is less than 1% of the Earth's value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terraforming of Mars</span> Hypothetical modification of Mars into a habitable planet

The terraforming of Mars or the terraformation of Mars is a hypothetical procedure that would consist of a planetary engineering project or concurrent projects aspiring to transform Mars from a planet hostile to terrestrial life to one that could sustainably host humans and other lifeforms free of protection or mediation. The process would involve the modification of the planet's extant climate, atmosphere, and surface through a variety of resource-intensive initiatives, as well as the installation of a novel ecological system or systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primary life support system</span> Life support device for a space suit

A primarylife support system (PLSS), is a device connected to an astronaut or cosmonaut's spacesuit, which allows extra-vehicular activity with maximum freedom, independent of a spacecraft's life support system. A PLSS is generally worn like a backpack. The functions performed by the PLSS include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Mars</span> Climate patterns of the planet Mars

The climate of Mars has been a topic of scientific curiosity for centuries, in part because it is the only terrestrial planet whose surface can be easily directly observed in detail from the Earth with help from a telescope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human mission to Mars</span> Proposed concepts

The idea of sending humans to Mars has been the subject of aerospace engineering and scientific studies since the late 1940s as part of the broader exploration of Mars. Long-term proposals have included sending settlers and terraforming the planet. Currently, only robotic landers and rovers have been on Mars. The farthest humans have been beyond Earth is the Moon, under the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA's) Apollo program which ended in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suitport</span> Alternative technology to enable extravehicular activity

A suitport or suitlock is an alternative technology to an airlock, designed for use in hazardous environments including in human spaceflight, especially planetary surface exploration. Suitports present advantages over traditional airlocks in terms of mass, volume, and ability to mitigate contamination by—and of—the local environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martian soil</span> Fine regolith found on the surface of Mars

Martian soil is the fine regolith found on the surface of Mars. Its properties can differ significantly from those of terrestrial soil, including its toxicity due to the presence of perchlorates. The term Martian soil typically refers to the finer fraction of regolith. So far, no samples have been returned to Earth, the goal of a Mars sample-return mission, but the soil has been studied remotely with the use of Mars rovers and Mars orbiters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space architecture</span> Architecture of off-planet habitable structures

Space architecture is the theory and practice of designing and building inhabited environments in outer space. This mission statement for space architecture was developed at the World Space Congress in Houston in 2002 by members of the Technical Aerospace Architecture Subcommittee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The architectural approach to spacecraft design addresses the total built environment. It is mainly based on the field of engineering, but also involves diverse disciplines such as physiology, psychology, and sociology.

Terrestrial analogue sites are places on Earth with assumed past or present geological, environmental or biological conditions of a celestial body such as the Moon or Mars. Analogue sites are used in the frame of space exploration to either study geological or biological processes observed on other planets, or to prepare astronauts for surface extra-vehicular activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crewed Mars rover</span> Mars rovers transporting people

Crewed Mars rovers are Mars rovers for transporting people on the planet Mars, and have been conceptualized as part of human missions to that planet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars habitat</span> Facility where humans could live on Mars

A Mars habitat is a hypothetical place where humans could live on Mars. Mars habitats would have to contend with surface conditions that include almost no oxygen in the air, extreme cold, low pressure, and high radiation. Alternatively, the habitat might be placed underground, which helps solve some problems but creates new difficulties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment</span> Mars 2020 electrochemical experiment

The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) was a technology demonstration on the NASA Mars 2020 rover Perseverance investigating the production of oxygen on Mars. On April 20, 2021, MOXIE produced oxygen from carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere by using solid oxide electrolysis. This was the first experimental extraction of a natural resource from another planet for human use. The technology may be scaled up for use in a human mission to the planet to provide breathable oxygen, oxidizer, and propellant; water may also be produced by combining the produced oxygen with hydrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars carbonate catastrophe</span> Past event on the planet Mars

Mars' carbonate catastrophe was an event that happened on Mars in its early history. Evidence shows Mars was once warmer and wet about 4 billion years ago, that is about 560 million years after the formation of Mars. Mars quickly, over a 1 to 12 million year time span, lost its water, becoming cold and very dry. Factors in Mars losing its water and most of its atmosphere are: the carbonate catastrophe, loss of the planet's magnetic field and Mars' low gravity. Mars' low gravity and loss of a magnetic field allowed the Sun's solar wind to strip away most of Mars' atmosphere and water into outer space.

References

  1. ↑ "New Mars space suit unveiled by NASA - Technology & Science - CBC News". cbc.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  2. 1 2 "This is NASA's latest space suit design for Mars". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Mars Suit - The Technology - Mars One". Mars One. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  4. 1 2 Genta, Giancarlo (2016). Next Stop Mars: The Why, How, and When of Human Missions. Springer. p. 211. ISBN   978-3-319-44311-9.
  5. ↑ Mikulski, Lauren (2000). Elert, Glenn (ed.). "Pressure on the surface of Mars". The Physics Factbook. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  6. 1 2 "Boiling Blood and Radiation: 5 Ways Mars Can Kill". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  7. ↑ "This is NASA's latest space suit design for Mars | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  8. ↑ Roberts, Jason (2015-08-17). "NASA's Next Prototype Spacesuit Has a Brand New Look". NASA. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  9. 1 2 "The next NASA rover could lead to safer space suits for astronauts exploring Mars". mercurynews.com. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  10. 1 2 "Experimenting, Testing of Safer Space Suit Materials will Be Conducted on JPL's 2020 Mars Rover Mission". Pasadena Now. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  11. ↑ William Lewis Miller (November 1985). Mass Loss of Shuttle Space Suit Orthofabric Under Simulated Ionospheric Atomic Oxygen Bombardment (PDF) (Report). NASA Technical Memorandum 87149. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  12. ↑ "The next NASA rover could lead to safer space suits for astronauts exploring Mars". The Mercury News. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Here's What Spacesuits for Travel to Mars Might Look Like". Racked. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Climbing inside Aouda.X: The spacesuit made to walk on Mars". CNN. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  15. ↑ Larson, Kristine; Fries, Marc (2017-02-27). "Ultraviolet Testing of Space Suit Materials for Mars" (PDF). 47th International Conference on Environmental Systems. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  16. ↑ "Biosuit | MVL". mvl.mit.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  17. 1 2 Newman, Dava. "Building the Better Spacesuit" (PDF). Ask Magazine. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Aouda.X, spacesuit simulator for planetary surface exploration".
  19. ↑ "Aouda.X, spacesuit simulator for planetary surface exploration". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  20. ↑ "NASA's Mars simulation space suit just got a redesign" . Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Designing Spacesuits for Mars". NASA. 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  22. ↑ History of Space Suits
  23. 1 2 "What is the Armstrong Limit?". WorldAtlas. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  24. 1 2 3 "How Mars Works". HowStuffWorks. 2000-11-06. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  25. ↑ "Making a Splash on Mars | Science Mission Directorate". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  26. ↑ "Diagram of the Human Respiratory System (Infographic)". Live Science. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  27. ↑ ICAO, Manual of the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (extended to 80 kilometres (262 500 feet)), Doc 7488-CD, Third Edition, 1993, ISBN   92-9194-004-6.
  28. ↑ Kenneth S. Thomas; Harold J. McMann (2006). US Spacesuits. Chichester, UK: Praxis Publishing Ltd. pp. 428–435. ISBN   0-387-27919-9.
  29. 1 2 "The Chemical Composition of Exhaled Air From Human Lungs". Sciencing. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  30. ↑ Respiratory Humidification: Basics
  31. ↑ Langford, N. J. (2005). "Carbon dioxide poisoning". Toxicological Reviews. 24 (4): 229–35. doi:10.2165/00139709-200524040-00003. PMID   16499405. S2CID   22508841.
  32. 1 2 3 "Closing the Loop: Recycling Water and Air in Space" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Suiting Up for the Red Planet". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  34. ↑ Courtland, Rachel (2015-09-30). "Suiting Up for the Red Planet - IEEE Spectrum". Spectrum.ieee.org. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  35. ↑ "Introducing NAsa's Future Spacesuit, the Z-1 (Infographic)". Space.com . 20 December 2012.
  36. ↑ NASA- Closing the Loop: Recycling Water and Air in Space - Page 2 of 7
  37. ↑ "What is the Temperature of Mars?". Space.com . 30 November 2017.
  38. ↑ "What Are the Limits of Human Survival?". Live Science . 9 August 2012.
  39. 1 2 3 4 Williams, Matt (2016-11-21). "How bad is the radiation on Mars?". phys.org. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  40. 1 2 3 4 Frazier, Sarah (30 September 2015). Garner, Rob (ed.). "Real Martians: How to Protect Astronauts from Space Radiation on Mars". Goddard Space Flight Center. National American Space Agency . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  41. ↑ Choi, Charles Q. (23 May 2016). "Ancient Solar Superflare Suggests Risks for Mars Missions". Space.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  42. ↑ Chodick, Gabriel; Bekiroglu, Nural; Hauptmann, Michael; Alexander, Bruce H.; Freedman, D. Michal; Doody, Michele Morin; Cheung, Li C.; Simon, Steven L.; Weinstock, Robert M. (2008-09-15). "Risk of Cataract after Exposure to Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation: A 20-Year Prospective Cohort Study among US Radiologic Technologists". American Journal of Epidemiology. 168 (6): 620–631. doi:10.1093/aje/kwn171. ISSN   0002-9262. PMC   2727195 . PMID   18664497.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 Perez, Jason (2016-03-30). "The Human Body in Space". NASA. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  44. ↑ Dunbar, Brian (May 29, 2014). "About Spacesuits". NASA. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  45. ↑ Controllable, Tinting, Polycarbonate Compatible Coatings for Advanced EVA Spacesuit Visor
  46. 1 2 3 Caitling; et al. "ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON THE SURFACE OF MARS" (PDF).
  47. 1 2 "NASA's New Spacesuit Has a Built-In Toilet". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  48. ↑ Mahon, Chris. "Two NASA Astronauts Spill Their Guts About Vomiting In Space". www.outerplaces.com. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  49. 1 2 3 "Martian dust may be hazardous to your health". New Scientist. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  50. ↑ "Martian dust may be hazardous to your health".
  51. 1 2 3 4 Cavagna, G. A.; Willems, P. A.; Heglund, N. C. (June 1998). "Walking on Mars". Nature. 393 (6686): 636. Bibcode:1998Natur.393..636C. doi: 10.1038/31374 . ISSN   0028-0836. PMID   9641676. S2CID   4426244.
  52. 1 2 "How Strong is the Gravity on Mars? - Universe Today". Universe Today. 2016-12-16. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  53. ↑ "Ask an Astronomer". Cool Cosmos. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  54. 1 2 "Rock Climbing on Mars: A Simulation". Climbing Magazine. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  55. 1 2 3 "Mountaineering and Climbing on Mars | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference". www.spaceref.com. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  56. 1 2 "This Spacesuit for Exploring Mars Is a Form-Fitting Math Problem". WIRED. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  57. 1 2 3 4 5 Cohen, Marc (2000-08-01). "Pressurized Rover Airlocks". SAE Technical Paper Series. Vol. 1. pp. 776–5760. doi:10.4271/2000-01-2389.
  58. ↑ Cohen, Marc M. (2000). "Pressurized Rover Airlocks". SAE Technical Paper Series. Vol. 1. pp. 776–5760. doi:10.4271/2000-01-2389.
  59. ↑ "US Government Issues NASA Demand, 'Get Humans to Mars By 2033'". Futurism. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  60. 1 2 "Smart clothing on Mars: Spacesuits and Biosensitive Style". SKIIN. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  61. 1 2 "Introducing NASA'S Future Spacesuit, the Z-1 (Infographic)". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  62. ↑ "Photo-jsc2004e18859". spaceflight.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 18 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  63. ↑ "Photo-jsc2004e18853". spaceflight.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 17 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.