Sunday, June 18, 2023

Inflatable habitats on Mars

 From The Space Race

 


According to this video, the inflatable habitat's skin is unaffected by micrometeorites and protects against radiation.  However, after the initial few months, it is very likely that inflatable habitats on Mars or the Moon will be covered with a metre-thick layer of regolith as additional protection.   As the video points out, it is unlikely that we will be able to build 3-D printed modules before astronauts arrive at Mars.  And if we take our habitats with us, they'll be far too heavy and use too much propellant unless they are inflatable.  After we've been on Mars for a few years, we'll have more luxurious accommodation.  At first, though, we'll be living in tents, though very high-tech tents to be sure.

NASA is planning to use inflatables on the Moon, so they'll likely be used on Mars too.

It seems plausible that inflatable habitats will also be used to expand the space available to astronauts for the long flight to Mars, which will last 3 months at the most optimistic minimum, but probably more like 8 months.   These inflatable habitats will be uncoupled before descent onto the surface of Mars, to be the nucleus of a space station in orbit around Mars.  

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