from-moon-to-mars

The location of the mission is Moon.The site is approximatively the south pole of the satellite , in consideration of the better exposition to natural solar light, of the minor probability of impact by meteorites & Co., of the availability of ice. In particular, is intended to set the base into a crater. The mission do not supposes the pre-existence of humans in loco, so the establishment is ex-novo.Each single module developes 3 greenhouses. This unit has the aim of self-establish and provide the creation of h2o and the asset of the first 3 greenhouses of the colony.A second type of module, a housing one, settles in a second time. It is functional to human settlement and can contain 2 persons.The esagonal shape bees-nest like of the modules permits to optimize internally the space and outer permits to expand in every direction and with the wanted extention, according to necessity, the station.The base is considered to be a permanent settlement, functional to empiric research on outer space exploration.

Every module is circular and has a tank, incapsuled in an esagonal structure, for eventual combination with others, thanks to the easy aggregation and flexibility: infacts, every module (“standard”) could be integrated with others, both in superimposing and in pulling alongside.The module has side of 2,9 mt and highness of 3,00 (diameter 5,00).Each unit is set to be easily connected to the others.The cover of each cell is made with a protective dome made of polymer containing sulfur and silicon aerogel, to protect from radiations and temperature jumps. The pressurization system of the dome is ubicated between the cavities of the inner circular module and external exagonal one. The illumination system of the greenhouses is made of optical fibre canals that conduct light in the inside, permitting the regulation of light intensity.

The farming methods considered are two: aeroponic and idroponic, depending on the vegetable of reference.The aeroponic growing permits to use at best the available space; idroponic permits to rationalize water resources.Greenhouses have two primary objectives:I: Produce oxygen and mantain a good quality of air trough the growing of vegetables such as sugar cane, lettuce and similars.II: Food production trough the growing of soy beans, tomatoes, strawberries, which require not much assistance but have a good productivity and guarantee an optimal nutritional contribution.In the same farming zone, but duly separated, is considered the breeding of insects for nutrition purposes.The use of insects is cheap not only strictly for financial saving, but also for the smart use of the area.

More, it is to consider that in equal weight of 100 gr., caterpillars contain more proteins than a beef. Even more, insects contain a good level of minerals such as iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and selenium. They also include dietary fibres. Last but not least, they can convert vegetable mass in protein for a better growing.The best insects for their nutritional level are: caterpillar (28,2 prot); grasshopper ( 20,6 prot; 6,1 fat; 3,9 carb.) ; giant water beetle (19,8 prot; 8,3 fat; 2,1 carb).

Project Information

Resources