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Colonization of the Red Planet may seem like the plot of a classic sci-fi page turner, but, as of late, NASA has made significant headway into creating a livable, sustainable, human-ready environment on Mars.

Far-off photo of the Martian surface.

NASA's

In April, NASAs Perseverance robot was able to convert some of the planets atmosphere into oxygen no easy feat, seeing as the planets atmosphere is ultra-thin and mainly made of carbon dioxide. Scientists believe that this significant accomplishment could pave the way for future successes in both isolating and storing oxygen there, marking a huge step for mankind and its ultimate goal of colonizing Mars.

Computer rendering of a futuristic Mars colony.

One of the greatest obstacles to creating livable colonies on the Red Planet boils down to one word: resources. The cost of shipping quantities of necessary resources, including oxygen, would be astronomical (pun fully intended), so scientists have instead been working on ways to develop those resources on the planet itself, or at least find ways to create more sustainable technology that would minimize the amount of supplies needed from Earth.

This is where our precious bodily fluids come in.

A recent study published in Materials Today Bio discusses the possibility that the answer to sustainable resources for Mars colonization efforts could lie within the astronauts themselves, namely in their blood, sweat, tears, urine, and feces.

Computer rendering depicts astronauts walking through a futuristic Martian colony.

Though this may sound grim (and potentially like another sci-fi storyline), the study suggests that these organic materials could be utilized as a way to supplement raw materials already found on Mars, potentially saving time, money, and other valuable resources necessary for interplanetary supply runs from Earth.

According to Aled D. Roberts, a research scientist at the University of Manchester, and leader of the new study, there is one significant, but chronically overlooked, source of natural resources that will by definition also be available on any crewed mission to Mars: the crew themselves.

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So how, exactly, would this technology work? As part of the new research, the study suggests that human blood could, in part, be used to form a material similar to concrete when combined with Martian dust. Furthermore, adding urea (which is found in human fluids like sweat, tears, and urine), would increase the strength and durability of this astro-crete by up to 300 percent. The potential to create and 3D print this concrete-like material could be an important step in astronauts ongoing quest to build on Mars.

The study also suggests that other human bi-products like dead skin, hair, nails, mucus, and feces could potentially be combined with already existing Martian materials and be exploited for their material properties on early extraterrestrial colonies.

Computer rendering of a futuristic Mars colony.

The study is an important (if unglamorous) step toward solving one of the most critical obstacles to creating Martian colonies. Now that researchers have identified the potential of harvesting bodily fluids from humans, more studies will likely be on the horizon to develop further materials similar to astro-crete that could be used to build on Mars. And who knows? One day we could all be sitting in our oxygen-rich Martian apartments built from donations of astronaut sweat, blood, and feces a literal Martian wonderland created from humanitys greatest resource: ourselves.

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The Key to Mars Colonization May (Literally) Lie in Human Blood, Sweat, and Tears, New Study Suggests - Yahoo News

Susannah Barrington| Special to the Reporter-News

We have all, I think, wanted to be astronauts at some point in our lives. The possibility of space exploration and traversing the final frontier of space has captured the imaginations of countless people.

Multiple private companies are now sending amateur astronauts, even civilians, into orbit. Suddenly, the possibility of traveling to outer space seems a bit more reachable. Even if you cant see yourself ever actually setting off in a rocket ship, you can get a taste of what its like by exploring the multiple books written by astronauts and scientists about space. Your Abilene Public Library has the following books (and more) available to borrow.

Get a solid foundation of the science that led to space exploration from space historian Roger D. Launius, in his book The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: from the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future. In this book, Launius covers the thousands of years of development that led to humanitys ability to venture into space. He also speculates about the future of space exploration and possible colonization of other planets.

Retired astronaut Clayton C. Anderson, also known as Astro Clay, spent over 150 days aboard the International Space Station. He provides a firsthand perspective on life as an astronaut and uses humor and wit to answer questions in his book, Its a Question of Space: An Ordinary Astronauts Answers to Sometimes Extraordinary Questions. Anderson writes about everything from living on the International Space Station to how to become an astronaut.

Looking to the future, physics professor Michio Kaku explores the possibilities of building sustainable colonies on Mars, achieving interstellar travel, and even human immortality in his book The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth. Beginning with a prologue that outlines the multiple past catastrophes that nearly led to the extinction of humanity, Kaku lays the foundation for why humanity must reach for the stars if we wish to survive as a species long term.

If you prefer to explore space travel through fiction, you have multiple options available. Andy Weir, author of New York Times bestselling novel The Martian, brings us a new novel, Project Hail Mary, starring an amnesiac astronaut who is Earths only hope of survival. He wakes up on a ship hurtling through space with no memory of who he is and must piece together his mission from observation.

Mary Robinette Kowal gives us an intriguing look at what might-have-been in her alternate history novel The Calculating Stars. After a meteorite strike devastates the world in the 1950s, humanitys only option is to race to space in an effort to save at least a portion of humanity.

These books and much more are available at your Abilene Public Library. Give us a call at 325-677-2474, or go online to http://www.abilenetx.gov/apl, to reserve a book or movie of your choice. We would love to hear from you!

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Blast off with the power of books, at your library - Abilene Reporter-News

Sure, the end of the world has been predicted many times without actually happening at all, but we have to face the facts: It seems difficult to imagine humanity surviving for millions of years By maintaining current lifestyles and consumption. NASA is well aware of this problem, and some researchers see only one solution to human salvation: extraterrestrial colonization. What many see as the fantasy that the wealthy have the money to throw out the window (hello Elon Musk) is a fine perception by the federal agency responsible for much of the economy. United States civil space program.

We find ourselves in a window of danger that cannot be closed until we create one, or even Several colonies outside the planet Independent and viable.

This was announced by NASA researchers who worked on the issue of colonizing the galaxy. They raise the greatest challenges that our planet has and will have to face, as Global warming, epidemics, wars, excessive consumption of natural resources, pollution In short, there is no shortage of problems, and Colonizing other bodies in our solar system, according to these scientists, would be a viable solution.

Moreover, it is considered the only possible and effective solution, which is more than viable. And the most surprising is that The colonization they encourage can be launched much faster than one might imagine. The researchers did not embark on overly complex calculations taking into account hundreds of factors, Rather, it is based on a simple equation: This takes into account the number of transistors (electronic devices) needed for each processor, the distance to different bodies that must be reached, and the number of years that must elapse between robotic and human tasks.

To say the least, the estimates of NASA researchers are not lacking in ambition. The goal would be to gradually colonize our solar system by going even further: Having already visited the moon, a small organization enough to return there. The first manned mission in Mars could occur in the not-too-distant future, in the year 2038. Next, an asteroid must be reached in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter by a manned mission, before the moons of the gas giant planet and its distant neighbor Saturn, respectively in 2064, 2076 and 2086.

If this calendar is somewhat respectable, the youngest of us should be able to attend these crazy errands. crazy? Maybe ok, but still less than the other expectations youve made Researchers, who plan to leave our solar system in the long term: In 2254, they thought we had already made it to Proxima Centauri, the closest planetary system. The second half of the 23rd century will then allow us to access two more systems.

Obviously, we must bear in mind thatThese are estimates based only on calculations far from being 100% reliable, and all depend in particular on technological developments in the coming decades, which are difficult to predict. Agency researchers are well aware of this, explaining that anyways, More computing power than we have today would be needed to design, build and operate such models [de fuses], that is, the models abandoned the classic propulsion system, in order to be able to travel the light years from our goals, the necessary travel times remain unknown at the moment.

Well meet in 17 years to find out if the first mission to Mars has taken off!

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This is the time when humans will have to colonize space in order to survive - Awani Review

The creation of factories in space is not a whim of billionaires detached from reality, but projects that are gradually developed and bearing fruit. Like Jeff Bezos, president of Blue Origin, which aims to send polluting industries into space, space research firm Varda Space aims to be the first to build a factory in space through a partnership with SpaceX, which should be as early as 2023.

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[EN VIDO] Space Colonization: Natural Refuges Hidden Under the Surface of Mars and the Moon A recent study confirms the idea that lava tunnels under the surface of Mars and the Moon will provide an excellent hiding place for future space explorers.

An industrial plant in space? Varda Space may seem far-fetched there is no shortage of space on land to design factories but it could lead to the development of industries on the ground.

Fardas interest is in using microgravity to create new materials or advance research into specific products on the International Space Station. According to TechCrunch, for example, we can make bioprinted devices or Semiconductors Even if nothing is announced at the moment because no contract has been signed with the client.

In order to make the flight, Varda Space must find partners to make the flight to low Earth orbit. This is the place SpaceX The latest offering comes in a show of companies looking to send things into space to take advantage of one of their scheduled flights to do so. In short, the two companies are on a journey through space together. When they reach their destination, they separate and each goes to work for himself. In short, a kind of spatial car sharing. A little different from your Sunday trip between Angers and Paris

Varda Space has announced that it wants to move its factory to Falcon 9, Properties SpaceXBefore the start of the year 2023 launchers From SpaceX, it will carry the supplies needed to set up the plant in space. If the companies dont reveal any of the contract terms, we know the machine will spend about three months in orbit testing these new manufacturing technologies.

However, another launch option has been explored using Electron missiles by Lab racket. But Varda Space did not want to put all its eggs in one basket, as the New Zealand company would provide the spacecraft to house supplies, as well as the capsule to return to Earth. A very important capsule since returningAtmosphere It is made at Mach 28 and the material should not break Drop.

In fact, the most complex moment from industrialization to recovery remains the moment of return. Mach 28 times the speed of sound (1,224 km/h). Think of science fiction movies where we see the capsule returning to Earth. Now imagine moving sensitive materials through this uncertain environment while absorbing many outside influences. This will undoubtedly be one of the pivotal moments of the mission.

Unlike other spacecraft specializing in communications or imaging, Varda Space and its Space Factory It does not require a specific task path. It is enough to stay there low earth orbit. Lessons learned during this first trip may enable others to implement. Varda Space hopes to launch a second or even a third by the end of 2024.

A date that remains elusive, allowing other projects to see the light of day. For example, we know that the European Union is working on this topic through the Period project, which aims to develop an orbital station. It will focus on assembling and manufacturing satellites directly from space in partnership with Airbus. Either way, these ambitious projects give us a glimpse into new horizons for industrialists and entrepreneurs from all fields.

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