The problems Elon Musk is still facing.

Mars - Part 3

Why a manned Mars mission is technically so difficult

1. Starship: a revolutionary design

The Starship is the first reusable rocket, resulting in enormous savings.

But the greatest miracle is that he can safely land vertically on a platform again. This is also very useful for the return journey from Mars.

2. The biggest energy drainer is not the journey

This will be the surprising chapter.

Explain that:

• the most fuel needed to escape the gravity of a planet;

• the journey itself takes place largely without engine power;

• Starship is therefore first refueled in orbit around the Earth;

• and that there must be a complete fuel plant on Mars for the return journey.

3. Building a gas station on Mars

Not a pump, but a fully automated chemical plant:

• to win ice cream;

• remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;

• produce methane and oxygen;

• reliable functioning for years.

If that fails, the crew remains on Mars.

4. The landing on Mars

Perhaps the most difficult part.

Too little atmosphere to slow down properly. Too much atmosphere to ignore her.

5. Life on Mars

• extracting water;

• produce oxygen;

• produce food;

• recycle waste;

• protection against radiation.

Everything must keep working for years.

6. Unassisted maintenance

There is:

• no garage;

• no spare parts store;

• no rescue service.

The crew must be able to repair virtually everything themselves.

7. Communication

Messages take 4 to over 20 minutes to travel, depending on the distance between Earth and Mars. Immediate consultation or assistance is impossible.

8. Health

• osteoporosis;

• muscle loss;

• cosmic radiation;

• psychological burden of years of isolation.

9. One mistake can be fatal

On Earth, you call the ANWB or the fire department. On Mars, such a thing does not exist.

The crew must survive completely independently.

End

A trip to Mars is not one technical problem, but dozens of technical problems that all need to be solved simultaneously. The rocket is perhaps the simplest part. The real challenge is the complete system surrounding it. Only when all those components work together flawlessly for years can a manned Mars mission become a reality.

And then, ultimately, one question remains: do we really want to establish a colony on a planet where literally everything is against us?

Als er één omvalt.....valt de hele rij

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