Utilitarian Mars Base

I have designed a base for the colonization of the planet Mars. I attempted to make it truly utilitarian, doing my best to throw out all preconceived notions of Mars bases created by science fiction and to do my best to design a base that just WORKS. I have included several unique mechanisms to make sure that this base lives up to its name.

It may not be the most "pretty". But my design has multiple unique solutions to problems with living on the planet MARS (especially the ADCU mentioned below)

Below I will list the features of my design and why I believe that this is the ideal option for creating a structure on the planet Mars.

Please assume that for this model, 1 mm model = 1 foot in reality.

SPECIAL NOTE: Very few internal mechanisms are modeled. I will instead describe them in detail. The reason these are not present in the model is because 1.) Many are exceedingly complicated to model and 2.) It would destroy the model's printability.

FEATURES:

WALLS: The first thing you will notice is the cup-like walls which enclose the structure. These massive walls will protect the colony from anything coming from the sides, including Mars' torrential winds. The walls must be made of the most durable material possible, because the base can only last as long as these walls stand. Entry and exit will be accomplished by airlocks in the walls (not shown).

BIODOME: The domed structure is the oxygen manufacturing plant for the colony. It is composed of a semi-transparent dome which allows visible light to filter down to the multitude of photosynthetic plants, protists, and/or bacteria. These processes will take in CO2 and water and produce oxygen for the colony, brought in through the pipes going from the Biodome to Main (Rectangular Building). The Biodome is also linked to Main by a tunnel, shown below the transport pipes.

If you took any sort of Biology in school, you will point out that these organisms are going to need CO2 and water to function. The water will be addressed later. The CO2 is readily available. Mars' atmosphere is almost entirely CO2, allowing for a small airlock (shown as the hole in the bottom of the wall) to bring in atmospheric air and transfer it to the Biodome. The CO2 present can then be used by the organisms inside for photosynthesis, sustaining the colony.

MAIN: Main is the nickname for the building where the colonists will live. Main houses the living quarters, mess halls, communications, restrooms (Yes they are important) and anything else that the colonists would require access to. Main receives Oxygen from the Biodome and Water from the Biodome which is first acquired from the Drilling Unit (Explained below). Main also features many solar panels on the roof (Shown in this design as a raised feature) which can help to power the base when possible. Finally, Main features thick walls to shield from radiation as well as proper insulation and electrical heating to stave off the cold days and nights of Mars.

DRILLING UNIT: The Drilling Unit is the pentagonal structure near Main and the Biodome. It is the key to bringing water to both the photosynthetic organisms and the colonists. Note that in order for the Drilling Unit to function, the base must be built over either an underground lake or an ice cap/glacier. The Drilling Unit contains a drill which reaches down to the water or ice. It then heats the water/ice, ensuring that ice will melt, and then transports it back to the surface. Water is purified and sent to the Biodome. At the Biodome, water is sorted, and some of it will go to either the Biodome or to Main. Water is stored in the tank next to main above the Power Plant.

ADCU: The ADCU is the pinnacle of my design. It provides a unique solution to a major problem. Up until now, I have not seen a sufficient solution to the problem of Mars' massive dust storms. Whether or not your base is above ground or underground, shielded or not, you will have the problem of having massive piles of dust settling and burying your base. This could case the destruction and termination of the settlement.

I believe I have solved this issue through the ADCU. ADCU stands for Air and Dust Cycling Unit. I will explain how it works by showing the example of a dust storm on Mars.

Imagine that the wind is carrying a massive amount of dust and sand towards the base. The majority of the dust is either carried over the base or strikes the external walls and is thrown to the side. However, some of the dust will inadvertently fall into the bowl-like structure of the base. If not removed, the dust will pile up until the solar panels no longer function and the Biodome is covered and the inhabitants must evacuate or die. That is where the ADCU comes in. In my model, I have reduced it to its simplest form. The two main parts are the turbine and the air tower, shown as the raised circle with the raised fan blades and the hollow triangular tower, respectively. When a dust storm strikes, controls from Main activate the massive turbine. This gigantic structure sucks in as much air (and dust) as possible, removing the majority of the dust from the interior of the walls. However, the dust has to go somewhere. This is where the air tower comes in. Air is cycled up through the air tower, spewing the dust everywhere. Now, remember how most of the dust didn't fall in the base and was carried away by the storm? This is exactly what will happen again. Most of the dust cycled out of the base will be blown off, leaving only a fraction of it to return, where it will again be cycled out. The ADCU is not by any means perfected in this design, but the concept itself, in my opinion, solves a huge issue that not many have properly addressed.

POWER STATION: The power station is the building next to Main. It houses a generation which provides power to the facility if the solar panels are not sufficient. This could either be a nuclear reactor or a simple fossil fuel generator, and is likely not sustainable as it needs to fill orders for bulk energy. On top of it is the water storage tank for the facility.

Printability: You have no issues printing this, especially in PLA. Remember to use supports, as two of the transport pipes will require it. The bottom is entirely flat and lends itself perfectly to printing.

Well, there you have it. My design for a utilitarian Mars facility.

What do you guys think?

P.S. If anyone prints it, let me know and post PICTURES! :) Thanks!

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