Publications Summer 2009 Access Mars: Assessing Cave Capabilities Establishing Specific Solutions: Final Report Abdul Mohsen Al Husseini Luis Alvarez Sanchez Konstantinos Antonakopoulos Jeffrey (Johannes) Apeldoorn Kenneth Lowell Ashford Jr. See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/publication Part of the Air and Space Law Commons, and the Space Habitation and Life Support Commons Scholarly Commons Citation Al Husseini, A. M., Alvarez Sanchez, L., Antonakopoulos, K., Apeldoorn, J., Ashford, K. L., Atabay, K. D., Langston, S., & et al. (2009). Access Mars: Assessing Cave Capabilities Establishing Specific Solutions: Final Report. , (). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/publication/1232 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Abdul Mohsen Al Husseini, Luis Alvarez Sanchez, Konstantinos Antonakopoulos, Jeffrey (Johannes) Apeldoorn, Kenneth Lowell Ashford Jr., Kutay Deniz Atabay, Sara Langston, and et al. This article is available at Scholarly Commons: https://commons.erau.edu/publication/1232 ACCESS Mars Assessing Cave Capabilities Establishing Specific Solutions Final Report International Space University Space Studies Program 2009 © International Space University. All Rights Reserved. The 2009 Summer Session Program of the International Space University was hosted by NASA Ames Research Center, San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Cover images courtesy of: Mars-Astronaut: Austrian Space Forum - Fotostudio Lang The Executive Summary and the Final report may be found on the ISU web site at http://www.isunet.edu in the “ISU Publications/Student Reports” section. Paper copies of the Executive Summary and the Final Report may also be requested from: International Space University Strasbourg Central Campus Attention: Publications/Library Parc d‟Innovation 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden France Tel. +33 (0)3 88 65 54 32 Fax. +33 (0)3 88 65 54 47 e-mail. [email protected] ii International Space University, SSP 2009 ACCESS Mars ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The International Space University Space Studies Program 2009 and the work on the Team Project were made possible through the generous support of the following organizations: NASA Ames Research Center NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous guidance, support and direction provided by the following individuals during the course of this work: Project Faculty: TP Chair René Laufer, Baylor University /Universität Stuttgart TP Facilitator Alfonso Davila, SETI Institute TP Facilitator Jhony Zaveleta, NASA Ames Research Center TP Teaching Associate Beatriz Gallardo, CTAE The authors are also grateful for the advice and support of all faculty, teaching associates, staff, advisors and visiting experts of the International Space University: Khalid Al-Ali, Carnegie Mellon University Donald James, NASA Ames Research Center Cristina Borrera del Pino, CRISA Astrium Dave Kendall, CSA Penny Boston, New Mexico Tech Mark Kliss, NASA Ames Research Center Nathan Brumall, NASA Ames Research Center Larry Lemke, NASA Ames Research Center Natalie Cabrol, NASA Ames Research Center Gary Martin, NASA Ames Research Center Axelle Cartier, Excalibur Almaz Tahir Merali, International Space University James Chartres, NASA Ames Research Center Christopher McKay, NASA Ames Research Center Ed Chester, CTAE David Miller, University of Oklahoma Stephen Clifford, Lunar and Planetary Institute John M. Olson, NASA HQ Marc Cohen, Northrop Grumman Laurie Peterson, NASA Ames Research Center Cassie Conley, NASA HQ Ricardo Amils Pibernat, Centro de Astrobilogia Joseph Conley, NASA Ames Research Center Florian Selch, Carnegie Mellon University Joy Crisp, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Raj Shea, NASA Ames Research Center Pascale Ehrenfreund, GWU Michael Sims, NASA Ames Research Center Alberto Fairen, NASA Ames Research Center Paul Spudis, Lunar and Planetary Institute Lauren Fletcher, NASA Ames Research Center Carol Stoker, NASA Ames Research Center Steve Frankel, NASA Ames Research Center Jim Thompson, The Explorers Club Arthur Guest, MIT S. Pete Worden, NASA Ames Research Center Felipe A. Hernandez, Universidad Central Hajime Yano, JAXA Santiago de Chile International Space University, SSP 2009 iii ACCESS Mars AUTHORS Abdul Mohsen Al Husseini Aliac Jojaghaian Luis Álvarez Sanchez Mary Kerrigan Konstantinos Antonakopoulos Yukiko Kodachi Jeffrey (Johannes) Apeldoorn Sara Langston Kenneth Lowell Ashford, Jr. Reggie MacIntosh Kutay Deniz Atabay Xavier Miguélez Ignacio Barrios Natalie Panek Yasemin Baydaroglu Campbell Pegg Katherine Bennell Regina Peldszus Jie Chen Xiaobo Peng Xin Chen Antoni Pérez-Poch Danielle Cormier Alexandre Perron Patrick Crowley Jiawen Qiu Guy de Carufel Pascal Renten Benoît Deper João Ricardo Line Drube Tomás Saraceno Paul Duffy Felipe Sauceda Phillip Edwards Azam Shaghaghi Varzeghani Esteban Gutiérrez Fernandez Rogan Shimmin Olivia Haider Rubén Solaz Ganesh Kumar Alexandre Solé Carsten Henselowsky Rahul Suresh Daichi Hirano Tatiana Mar Vaquero Escribano Tomas Hirmer Marta Vargas Muñoz Barry Hogan Pierre-Damien Vaujour Andrea Jaime Albalat Dominic Veillette Elizabeth Jens Yonatan Winetraub Iulia-Elena Jivănescu Oliver Zeile iv International Space University, SSP 2009 ACCESS Mars ABSTRACT The human race has evolved, grown and expanded through the exploration of Earth. After initial steps on the Moon, our next challenge is to explore the solar system. Mars shows potential for both scientific discovery and future human settlement, and so is a prime candidate for the next leap of human exploration. Such a bold endeavor will be a driver for an unprecedented worldwide cooperative effort and the catalyst for a new era of international, intercultural and interdisciplinary human relations. Scientific and technological progress will also accelerate as mankind is ushered into a new era of space exploration. Currently proposed Mars missions have identified a number of challenges such as high levels of radiation, harsh climate and limited launch windows. Recently discovered lava tubes on Mars present potential solutions to some of these issues, but raise a variety of intriguing new challenges. These encompass not only technological and engineering considerations, but also legal, ethical and societal issues such as planetary protection and crew safety. This report assesses the feasibility of overcoming such challenges through the exploitation of Mars caves. This report reviews existing reference missions and identifies areas of further research essential for adapting mission architectures to utilize caves. Cave suitability is considered with respect to size, type, location and their potential to mitigate hazards. They are also assessed with respect to their potential for scientific work adhering to astrobiology guidelines and the search for extra- terrestrial life. This report compares surface and subsurface habitat options. Engineering challenges arising from the use of caves are addressed along with proposals for alternate architecture solutions. Mission analysis is conducted to determine the transit trajectory and define two possible mission scenarios with surface crews of 6 and 12 crew members. Different types of habitat are described and evaluated. An architecture for precursor missions is provided utilizing surface rovers, cargo delivery rovers and pressurized human transport vehicles. The implications of sub-surface operations on thermal control, communications and power systems are investigated with recommendations given. Crew selection, training methods and life support system solutions are also addressed. Literature suggests a low radiation environment within Martian caves, allowing for extended duration missions. The ACCESS Mars Team concludes that using lava tubes as human habitats is not merely a viable habitat solution for a Mars expedition, but also potentially more beneficial than proposed surface solutions. International Space University, SSP 2009 v ACCESS Mars FACULTY PREFACE “…there is not a simple view of these other worlds.” - Epicureans View of the World (340 – 215 BC) “Earth might not offer the best place for humans to live.” - Pythagoreans View of the World (500 BC) Human beings have sought shelter, protection and security for thousands and thousands of generations since the dawn of humankind. Their emotions and feelings drove decisions to leave an open and often hostile environment and move into safety promising places like caves – long before constructing houses, places of worship or community buildings. Now we plan to take the first uncertain steps into space, the new sea of humankind, leaving Earth towards one of our neighbors, planet Mars. Once again we seek for shelter, protection and security in a hostile environment – this time on another world far from home, planet Earth. Again caves seem to be promising locations for our explorers in space to stay and rest. Fiftysix extraordinary and distinguished participants from 25 countries and five continents took the challenge and formed the ACCESS Mars team. A truly international, intercultural and interdisciplinary group which performed exceptionally well in many ways from the very beginning running smoothly but powerful like a large train – with a clear direction where to go and difficult to stop