The Mission to Mars Project Signature Assignment

Submitted to: Dr. Archer 06/28/2013

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe what the Mission to Mars Project and understand how they plan on surviving accordingly and what they plan to accomplish. The Mission to Mars project is a huge exploration venture for man-kind and can possibly cause a paradigm shift in our world as we know it today. I will describe the Mission exactly as it planned and many flaws that come with their plans. NASA has been defunded so this mission has been privatized by a nonprofit organization (Mission One). Mission One is seeking individuals to volunteer for their mission to Mars. The individuals they choose for the mission will have to expect to live on Mars and colonize the red planet. Most of their plans are just theory and I will research more of their plans like growing vegetation, using solar power, and survival.

Introduction to “The Mission to Mars” Project
Many great men and women have been able to experience the glory beyond our atmosphere. Retired NASA astronaut, Frank Borman, was one of those great men. Borman was one of the first 24 individuals to fly around the moon. Borman is a modern explorer, beyond the constraints of the seas, or land, Borman was able to reach new heights. This great explorer once said, “Exploration really is the essence of the human spirit, and to pause, to falter, to turn our back on the quest for knowledge, is to perish.”As human beings it has always been in our nature to explore. Exploration has been a large part of our history for many years now. From the discovery of the New World, to the first man on the moon, our society has yearned for expansion to every corner of the world, and now the stars. As we look to the skies, we see new obstacles to overcome and new experiences to hold. That is what the “Mission to Mars” project seeks to accomplish, to uncover a new frontier for mankind. The question is will colonizing Mars be scientifically possible? The “Mission to Mars” project is well on its way to attain such a feat. As research continues to expand, the idea of colonization will move to reality. The new task will be to enable life on Mars to be sustained. Sustainable energy, food supplies, and proper shelter become placed at the forefront of the Mission to Mars project. Through my research I will be taking an in depth look at this project and all aspects of it.
Method
Space exploration has always been an interest of mine. I first used the internet to gather as much information as I could about the project. As I read all the information I gathered from several sources, such as Ebsco Host, I began to weed out certain information that did not make sense and what I thought was scientifically impossible. I also managed to observe pieces of information that were from less than credible sources or from credible authors. This paper requires sources of the highest caliber to make it effective. The majority of the methods Mission One Team planned to use towards colonize Mars, were plans filled with only scientific theories. I proceeded to research these theories and methods and read comments on how other people felt about them. Their plans to grow vegetation for food on the red planet were particularly interesting to me. Studying encyclopedias of the kind of environments that plans need to survive was the next logical step. Lastly I used the Mission One webpage to sign up for their mission. They are seeking volunteers from all over the world to participate in their mission. I found out that they are not letting the public know what qualifications a person needs to qualify for the mission.
Discussion
As with all great explorations, the number of obstacles which must be overcome seem insurmountable. For every company and investor showing support for the project, there are ten more citing all the difficulties that will be encountered along the way. The Dutch startup company Mars One is planning to establish the first Mars colony in 2023 (Bas Lansdrop 2011). There are many problems they have not solved even though this mission is already being prepared. One of the several issues complicating this mission that I feel is important is medical risk. With outer space having a more concentrated amount of cosmic radiation in space and also in Mars the increased risk of Cancer will be a factor (Cucinotta, 2013). The aluminum used to build the space craft is not strong enough to shield themselves from the high doses of radiation emitted by the Sun. Trying to find a way shield the vessel is still being figured out. Proper shelter is key in ensuring the lives and safeties of those brave enough to participate in the colonization of a new world.
Another issue that must be dealt with is that of sustenance. As human beings we need to proper nutrition and a balanced diet to maintain our health. The vessels that will carry the astronauts into space and land on Mars can only carry so much food especially if the astronauts plan on the long term colonization of Mars. The Mission One Team plans on growing vegetation in a greenhouse structure. While this may seem like the most obvious idea, it has never been proven to work. Water, climate and overall environment would greatly affect the yield of such a greenhouse. Regardless of the safeties put in place, the colonists need access to clean water and a nutritious diet. The colonists are of the utmost importance and their safety must be placed first. According to NASA, the idea of a greenhouse system can be possible. “Take the cold tolerance of bacteria that thrive in arctic ice, add the ultraviolet resistance of tomato plants growing high in the Andes Mountains, and combine with an ordinary plant. What do you get? A tough plant "pioneer" that can grow in Martian soil”, (Steigerwald 2005). With gene splicing growing plants in a harsh environment can be possible. The plants will not only grow food but it will provide oxygen.
Another issue is the funding for the not only the mission but also long term colonization. Mission One is privatized program and so they have to rely on funding from donations, advertisements, and a possible television show, according Bas Lansdorp. Money is the biggest obstacle and the cost to send the first crew is six billion dollars (Bas Lansdrop 2011). Finding the proper candidates for such a mission would be an obstacle in its own right. Finding a qualified individual that still provides the allure that the public desires is difficult, to say the least. Lastly, the main issue with this mission as a whole is the funding process. Money is important and according to NOVA sixty-six percent of the funding will go to the vessel and the rocket launch. After the Mission One solves these problems they would be able to start their mission. They plan one sending a team of people to Mars and to never return. The technology to return to earth does not exist yet. As the team lands safely on the red planet they will start a colony, set solar panels to provide power, and set up the green house to grow vegetation. Then they have to survive successfully until the next crew can be sent to the red planet to add to the colony. What Mars One fails to disclose are powerful storms that occur on the Red Planet. With the technology we have today it is possible to send human beings to Mars and survive long term on Mars. Companies are investing millions of dollars in this mission because they too believe it is possible and beneficial to the human race.
Humans, by nature, are curious and natural explorers. Throughout history people in all corners of the world have sought expansion, and today we are no different. Mankind has now turned its sights to the stars. Mars shares a variety of similarities with Earth, which sparks the interest of scientists and regular citizens alike. Scientists look to Mars and see it teeming with possibilities for travel and colonization. Thanks to projects like “Mission to Mars,” the possibilities are becoming realities. For this new reality it is essential to research the essential pieces to the successful colonization of Mars, such as agriculture, solar power and of course survival.

Appendix AMars missions by year | | |

Appendix B
Timeline
[hide]Mission (1960–1969) | Launch | Arrival at Mars | Termination | Elements | Result | Mars 1M No.1 | 10 October 1960 | | 10 October 1960 | Flyby | Launch failure | Mars 1M No.2 | 14 October 1960 | | 14 October 1960 | Flyby | Launch failure | Mars 2MV-4 No.1 | 24 October 1962 | | 24 October 1962 | Flyby | Broke up shortly after launch | Mars 1 | 1 November 1962 | | 21 March 1963 | Flyby | Some data collected, but lost contact before reaching Mars, flyby at approx. 193,000 km | Mars 2MV-3 No.1 | 4 November 1962 | | 19 January 1963 | Lander | Failed to leave Earth's orbit | Mariner 3 | 5 November 1964 | | 5 November 1964 | Flyby | Failure during launch ruined trajectory | Mariner 4 | 28 November 1964 | 14 July 1965 | 21 December 1967 | Flyby | Success (21 images returned)[63] | Zond 2 | 30 November 1964 | | May 1965 | Flyby | Communication lost three months before reaching Mars | Mariner 6 | 25 February 1969 | 31 July 1969 | August 1969 | Flyby | Success | Mariner 7 | 27 March 1969 | 5 August 1969 | August 1969 | Flyby | Success | Mars 2M No.521 | 27 March 1969 | | 27 March 1969 | Orbiter | Launch failure | Mars 2M No.522 | 2 April 1969 | | 2 April 1969 | Orbiter | Launch failure | Mission (1970–1989) | Launch | Arrival at Mars | Termination | Elements | Result | Mariner 8 | 8 May 1971 | | 8 May 1971 | Orbiter | Launch failure | Kosmos 419 | 10 May 1971 | | 12 May 1971 | Orbiter | Launch failure | Mariner 9 | 30 May 1971 | 13 November 1971 | 27 October 1972 | Orbiter | Success (first successful orbit) | Mars 2 | 19 May 1971 | 27 November 1971 | 22 August 1972 | Orbiter | Success | | | | 27 November 1971 | Lander, rover[27] | Crashed on surface of Mars | Mars 3 | 28 May 1971 | 2 December 1971 | 22 August 1972 | Orbiter | Success | | | | 2 December 1971 | Lander, rover[27] | Partial success. First successful landing; landed softly but ceased transmission within 15 seconds | Mars 4 | 21 July 1973 | 10 February 1974 | 10 February 1974 | Orbiter | Could not enter orbit, made a close flyby | Mars 5 | 25 July 1973 | 2 February 1974 | 21 February 1974 | Orbiter | Partial success. Entered orbit and returned data, but failed within 9 days[citation needed] | Mars 6 | 5 August 1973 | 12 March 1974 | 12 March 1974 | Lander | Partial success. Data returned during descent but not after landing on Mars | Mars 7 | 9 August 1973 | 9 March 1974 | 9 March 1974 | Lander | Landing probe separated prematurely; entered heliocentric orbit | Viking 1 | 20 August 1975 | 20 July 1976 | 17 August 1980 | Orbiter | Success | | | | 13 November 1982 | Lander | Success | Viking 2 | 9 September 1975 | 3 September 1976 | 25 July 1978 | Orbiter | Success | | | | 11 April 1980 | Lander | Success | Phobos 1 | 7 July 1988 | | 2 September 1988 | Orbiter | Contact lost while en route to Mars[95] | | | | | Lander | Not deployed | Phobos 2 | 12 July 1988 | 29 January 1989 | 27 March 1989 | Orbiter | Partial success: entered orbit and returned some data. Contact lost just before deployment of landers | | | | | Landers | Not deployed | Mission (1990–1999) | Launch | Arrival at Mars | Termination | Elements | Result | Mars Observer | 25 September 1992 | 24 August 1993 | 21 August 1993 | Orbiter | Lost contact just before arrival | Mars Global Surveyor | 7 November 1996 | 11 September 1997 | 5 November 2006 | Orbiter | Success | Mars 96 | 16 November 1996 | | 17 November 1996 | Orbiter, lander, penetrator | Launch failure | Mars Pathfinder | 4 December 1996 | 4 July 1997 | 27 September 1997 | Lander, rover | Success | Nozomi (Planet-B) | 3 July 1998 | | 9 December 2003 | Orbiter | Complications while en route; Never entered orbit[citation needed] | Mars Climate Orbiter | 11 December 1998 | 23 September 1999 | 23 September 1999 | Orbiter | Crashed on surface due to metric-imperial mix-up | Mars Polar Lander | 3 January 1999 | 3 December 1999 | 3 December 1999 | Lander | Crash-landed on surface due to improper hardware testing | Deep Space 2 (DS2) | | | | Hard landers | | Mission (2000–2009) | Launch | Arrival at Mars | Termination | Elements | Result | 2001 Mars Odyssey | 7 April 2001 | 24 October 2001 | Currently operational | Orbiter | Success | Mars Express | 2 June 2003 | 25 December 2003 | Currently operational | Orbiter | Success | Beagle 2 | | | 6 February 2004 | Lander, rover | Landing failure; fate unknown. | MER-A Spirit | 10 June 2003 | 4 January 2004 | 22 March 2011 | Rover | Success | MER-B Opportunity | 7 July 2003 | 25 January 2004 | Currently operational | Rover | Success | Rosetta | 2 March 2004 | 25 February 2007 | Currently operational | Gravity assist en route to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko | Success | Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | 12 August 2005 | 10 March 2006 | Currently operational | Orbiter | Success | Phoenix | 4 August 2007 | 25 May 2008 | 10 November 2008 | Lander | Success | Dawn | 27 September 2007 | 17 February 2009 | Currently operational | Gravity assist to Vesta | Success | Mission (2010–2019) | Launch | Arrival at Mars | Termination | Elements | Result | Fobos-Grunt | 8 November 2011 | | 8 November 2011 | Phobos lander, sample return | Failed to leave Earth orbit.[96] Fell back to Earth.[97] | Yinghuo-1 | | | 8 November 2011 | Orbiter | | MSL Curiosity | 26 November 2011 | 6 August 2012 | Currently operational | Rover | Success |

Appendix C
The following imagemap of the planet Mars has embedded links to geographical features in addition to the noted Rover and Lander locations. Click on the features and you will be taken to the corresponding article pages. North is at the top; Elevations: red (higher), yellow (zero), blue (lower).

Reference Cucinotta, F., & Kim, M. (n.d.). Space Radiation Cancer Risk Projections and Uncertainties.http://spaceradiation.usra.edu/. Retrieved June 1, 2013, from spaceradiation.usra.edu/irModels/TP-2013-217375.pdf Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration. (n.d.). The National Academies Press. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12045&page=62 Steigerwald, B. (2005, May 16). NASA - Designer Plants on Mars. NASA - Home. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/new Lansdorp, B. (n.d.). Mission One Directer.http://mars-one.com. Retrieved June 1, 2013, from mars-one.com/en/about-mars-one/team Abrams, A. C., & 2008.. (n.d.). NOVA | Is There Life on Mars?. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/is-there-life-on- mars.html