Sustainability
Projects aimed at developing self-sufficient systems for energy, food, water, and waste management to support long-term habitats on Mars.
Hypatia’s Circular Odisey: Tracing the sustainable path of the Hypatia II Mission
by Jennifer García
The project involves the creation of an interactive virtual tour showcasing the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Hanksville, Utah. Through videos, it highlights sustainable practices and circular economy initiatives implemented during the Hypatia II mission at the MDRS station, aiming to inspire similar actions on Earth. The project includes collaborators such as Planeta Huerto, which has provided a portable composter for organic waste management, and Sepiia, which has supplied sustainable clothing that requires no ironing and repels odors and dirt. Additionally, The Good Goal app will assist the crew in optimizing sustainability during the mission. More information about the project can be found at XRLA Ciberimaginario.
Enhancing Solar Panel Efficiency for Dusty Mars Environments
by Estel Blay
Mars presents unique challenges for solar panels due to its fine, electrostatically charged dust, which adheres stubbornly to surfaces and obstructs sunlight absorption. This accumulation reduces the effectiveness of solar panels, and over time, the abrasive dust may even scratch panel surfaces, further compromising their functionality. These issues intensify during frequent Martian dust storms, making dust management crucial for prolonged missions. Different solutions will be tested during the analog mission to maintain solar panel performance in Mars’s harsh environment, with research focused on optimal system designs, power requirements, and coating effectiveness.
Life on earth is such a good story you cannot afford to miss the beginning… Beneath our superficial differences we are all of us walking communities of bacteria. The world shimmers, a pointillist landscape made of tiny living beings. Life did not take over the world by combat, but by networking.
— Lynn Margulis, the biologist who articulated the endosymbiotic theory