Mars Base Zero

If theoretically 612 sq ft is all that is needed, it should be possible to simulate a hermitically sealed habitat of say 15000 sq ft on earth and see if 10 people can live happily inside for say three years, recycling everything?? Such a simulation will give great cofidence to move on to the next step of space exploration - whatever that may be.

Selvaraj
From: alaskan_riches
To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 2:17 AM
Subject: [spacesettlers] Re: Mars Base Zero

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, sraj wrote:
> 612 sq ft of planted area, is that enough to keep a person alive on
Mars, with its reduced solar intensity?
We aren't even very sure it is enough to keep us alive *here*!!

We assume that if you built one of these on Mars, you would suppliment
with artificial lighting as needed to provide sufficient plant lighting.

> Why can't we use similar technology to keep people well fed on Earth?
Too expensive...though a lot of what we have is applicable, and could
help people here; the real thing that causes hunger these days is poor
distribution (whether due to economic, political or war), not a lack
of food. Also a lot of what we are doing wouldn't work in the poor
countries of the world like in Africa: the soil temperature is too
warm for our primary crop (potatoes, which need a soil temperature no
more than 68 degrees F (19 C)).
Ray
Mars Base Zero inhabitant::Day 27