A reason to go to Mars

In a message dated 12/16/2008 2:24:49 AM Eastern Standard Time,
burgesskj@... writes:

> One minor detail though. The Martian surface is covered with
> regolith, not soil. The difference being that the latter has living
> organisms, and can most readily sustain growth.
>
> Martian regolith is full of oxides (rust) and other contaminants.
> Therefore it will require some modification before being used in
> greenhouses.

If you studied the test done by the Viking landers when liquid water was
added to the regolith it released most of its different compounds and left a
somewhat clean soil.

I have developed a method that should render many compounds from the regolith
and leave a soil that could support the growing of plants. This method would
also make the smelting of metals from the regolith easier.

>
> Regolith is just fine for filling sandbags though, and will make fine
> radiation shielding. Heated, the silicate elements of that regolith
> should produce excellent glass also. Double-paned, with a vapor or
> liquid water barrier, and it should also make nice windows &
> greenhouse extensions.

This is very true in all aspects. The regolith and double paned idea is one
that we have studied at length.
Even if it is not sand bagged all settlements should have a large embankment
of regolith surrounding it for several reasons. The doubled paned idea would
be better if the layers were either some strong plastic or transparent
aluminum. Between the two layers it would be good to have a thick Carbon Dioxide
atmosphere.
All double paned applications should have sufficient tag alongs to plug up
any leak of less than 3 inches.

> I hope you're correct about Phobos & Diemos becoming viable O'Neill
> habitats!
>
They should be but with any extra weight Phobos orbit will be in danger of
degenerating faster and any work there could be short lived.
The only real way that I could see for using Phobos for any reason would be
first to move it out to a more stable orbit.

John Wayne

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