Biosphere 2 was not the way to go. If humans where to live on mars Food and plants would have to be done with hydroponics small scale but intense preduction of food and oxygen. A test base should be easily accessible with outside links to start with. Somewhere like Alaska the base could be connected to the power grid (power is a problem that can be solved on its own.) Once things have been proven we can separate parts off. But it should be seen as a test area not a simulation. People, tools and experiments should be allowed in and out fairly freely.The first base on mars will have to last 2 years between surplie drops but will be depend of the surplie drops for a long time. The aim of the test base would be to get to that level first. 4 to 6 people lasting 2 years with as little as possible.
Anyways, there's a new trend for hobbyists to engage in small-scale manufacture of many items which traditionally take a large capital investment: http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page http://www.arduino.cc/ etc. These hobbyists call themselves "makers."
Isn't the main reason Biosphere 2 failed that they had to import oxygen? Couldn't you just solve this on Mars by using solar power to split water? You could import all the oxygen you need then.
...Lack of co2...
you are going to need some way to handle pests that attack your crops...
1. Full ISRU and permanent closed-cycle living systemThis absolutely needs to be mastered before we can even think about colonizing space. And we have to try it out on Earth first.This has never been done. Experiments like Biosphere 2 were always only for short durations (and failed). Historic examples like the colonization of the Americas and Australia are meaningless, since these are obviously not closed-cycle systems.
The closest we can get to Mars on Earth is Antarctica. Unsupported human life in Antarctica is not possible (with the possible exception of a few areas along the coast and Antarctic peninsula); which is the reason (together with the Antarctic treaty) why it is the only continent on Earth not settled by humans. The bases on the continent are not self-sufficient and many are not even permanently staffed. In this sense, the situation in Antarctica is similar to what one could expect after the first phase of exploration on the Moon and Mars (maybe towards the end of this century): several independant bases, all requiring extensive and expensive support from Earth.
Therefore, I propose that we start an international effort to establish a permanent human colony in Antarctica, in the middle of the continent
I would like to suggest a few things that could be done here on Earth in the next 50 years to prepare for eventual colonization of Mars (or other extraterestrial destinations). Feel free to add/comment.
Quote from: aquanaut99 on 07/06/2010 11:17 amI would like to suggest a few things that could be done here on Earth in the next 50 years to prepare for eventual colonization of Mars (or other extraterestrial destinations). Feel free to add/comment.While Mars has an atmosphere, it is a cold, hard vacuum by our standards.Building stuff on Mars surface would be like an EVA. Pressure suits would be needed, which reduces dexterity. It's dangerous and tiring.
Quote from: aquanaut99 on 07/06/2010 11:17 amI would like to suggest a few things that could be done here on Earth in the next 50 years to prepare for eventual colonization of Mars (or other extraterestrial destinations). Feel free to add/comment.While Mars has an atmosphere, it is a cold, hard vacuum by our standards.Building stuff on Mars surface would be like an EVA. Pressure suits would be needed, which reduces dexterity. It's dangerous and tiring.Developing better telepresence and teleoperated devices would be a helpful step. And more able telerobots could have numerous earth applications.