Difference between revisions of "Shared:2019Concept"
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| + | === '''Title''' === | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Experiments with ice caps as insulation medium from solar radiation" | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==='''Keywords'''=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Inflatable, ice cap, pressurization, radiation shield. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === '''Abstract''' === | ||
| + | |||
| + | The discovery of water ice immediately under the surface of Mars by NASA’s Phoenix lander in 2008 prompted in our team an idea. Due to the very thin atmosphere surrounding the planet, an inhabited space needs good shielding from radiation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === '''Description''' === | ||
| + | |||
| + | We have considered two options, both based on the act of excavating the soil. The first kind of excavation needs to go deep enough so that a thickness of 5 meters of Martian soil can act as insulation for the radiation. The second one, for the moment in its conceptual and experimental stage, still underground, would minimize the excavation effort and insulation from radiation will rely on an ice cap of 1 meter thickness. Because water does not subsist in liquid form in the atmospheric conditions aforementioned, the ice caps will be enclosed and pressurized to prevent loss of ice mass (for example during the day when temperatures rise to 20 degrees Celsius. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === '''Future questions''' === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Further research will explore the feasibility of this idea in terms of: | ||
| + | 1. Capabilities of pressurization of this specific inflatable. | ||
| + | 2. Availability of ice to be used | ||
| + | 3. Technology necessary to model the ice in the desired shape. | ||
| + | 4. Structural challenges. | ||
| + | |||
| + | For the time being, the team considers also the capabilities of these ice caps to absorb and transmit (sun)light, functioning as skylights. Several geometries will be explored and made available to ‘take a shine to’. | ||
| + | |||
| + | First experiment, Inspired by diverging-lens geometry. The convex side as seen from top-view, collects light and transmits it. It was visible, through the experiments, that the point where this curved surface is cut by an arbitrary plane, the ‘cut’ edges will shine the light transmitted from the opposite side. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Stay tuned for more! | ||
Revision as of 14:08, 1 January 2020
Off-Earth Manufacturing and Construction
Concept
Title
"Experiments with ice caps as insulation medium from solar radiation"
Keywords
Inflatable, ice cap, pressurization, radiation shield.
Abstract
The discovery of water ice immediately under the surface of Mars by NASA’s Phoenix lander in 2008 prompted in our team an idea. Due to the very thin atmosphere surrounding the planet, an inhabited space needs good shielding from radiation.
Description
We have considered two options, both based on the act of excavating the soil. The first kind of excavation needs to go deep enough so that a thickness of 5 meters of Martian soil can act as insulation for the radiation. The second one, for the moment in its conceptual and experimental stage, still underground, would minimize the excavation effort and insulation from radiation will rely on an ice cap of 1 meter thickness. Because water does not subsist in liquid form in the atmospheric conditions aforementioned, the ice caps will be enclosed and pressurized to prevent loss of ice mass (for example during the day when temperatures rise to 20 degrees Celsius.
Future questions
Further research will explore the feasibility of this idea in terms of: 1. Capabilities of pressurization of this specific inflatable. 2. Availability of ice to be used 3. Technology necessary to model the ice in the desired shape. 4. Structural challenges.
For the time being, the team considers also the capabilities of these ice caps to absorb and transmit (sun)light, functioning as skylights. Several geometries will be explored and made available to ‘take a shine to’.
First experiment, Inspired by diverging-lens geometry. The convex side as seen from top-view, collects light and transmits it. It was visible, through the experiments, that the point where this curved surface is cut by an arbitrary plane, the ‘cut’ edges will shine the light transmitted from the opposite side.
Stay tuned for more!
