Snidely asserted that:
Alain Fournier suggested that ...
Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars soon. I am wondering what would be a
good design for a Martian colony. I am assuming the following:
1. Colonists will want to have private quarters (where others can’t
go without consent).
2. Colonists will want to be able to evacuate their habitat rapidly
(in case of fire for instance). And do so from two opposite ends of
their habitat. Here rapidly probably means without putting on a
spacesuit, unless one can design a spacesuit you can slip into in
about 2 seconds.
3. Point 2, applies even if there is a party in the private quarters
of a colonist (therefore, you can’t just have a shelter sufficient
for the number of inhabitants of a given habitat).
4. Colonist will want to be able to go see other colonist or go to
work without having to put on spacesuits.
My solution, and I am not sure it really is a good one, is to make
habitats in pairs. Have two habitats in a big tube, and a passageway
between the two habitats. The tube as a whole is pressurized, so you
don’t need an airlock to get out of a habitat. You would have
airlocks at the end of each tube. So once everyone is evacuated from
the tube, you can depressurize to put out a fire. You also need to
have sufficient ventilation capabilities in the passageway. If there
is a fire in one habitat, there is likely to be some smoke going into
the passageway. You don’t want to have to depressurize to get rid of
smoke every time someone burns his toasts.
Workspaces (offices, labs, machine shops etc) would be similarly
paired in tubes, albeit possibly much bigger tubes.
You can link the habitat tubes by the ends and sometimes on hubs. It
would be important to have a few hubs, not just a big loop with all
the habitats in a circle. Having crisscrossing “streets” allow you to >>> go anywhere even if you have a section that is closed because of a
fire, smoke or what not.
What do you think? How would you design a colony?
Alain Fournier
I expect that the first buildings will be very basic, like ISS
modules. The 2nd generation (of buildings) will probably build around
the 1st, perhaps connected by a hub. During both of these phases,
most facilities will be communal, with perhaps "private" sleeping
closets, but maybe also barracks style bunking. But of course, these
will be the advance team and not the Mayflower passengers.
It won't be before the 3rd generation that "apartments" will be built,
and that will probably be as a row of suites on a common hallway;
perhaps a hallway in front or in back.
where "or" means "and"
"Houses" will probably be a long way off.
I don't see "houses" before in situ building materials are in use, which
will probably require a significant support crew even if fabrication is primarily with robotic equipment.
Your concern about suitless evacuation will probably involve pressurized garages for excursion vehicles.
Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars soon. I am wondering what would be a
good design for a Martian colony. I am assuming the following:
1. Colonists will want to have private quarters (where others can’t go without consent).
2. Colonists will want to be able to evacuate their habitat rapidly (in
case of fire for instance). And do so from two opposite ends of their habitat. Here rapidly probably means without putting on a spacesuit,
unless one can design a spacesuit you can slip into in about 2 seconds.
3. Point 2, applies even if there is a party in the private quarters of
a colonist (therefore, you can’t just have a shelter sufficient for the number of inhabitants of a given habitat).
4. Colonist will want to be able to go see other colonist or go to work without having to put on spacesuits.
Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars soon. I am wondering what would be a
good design for a Martian colony. I am assuming the following:
1. Colonists will want to have private quarters (where others can’t
go without consent).
2. Colonists will want to be able to evacuate their habitat rapidly (in
case of fire for instance). And do so from two opposite ends of their habitat. Here rapidly probably means without putting on a spacesuit,
unless one can design a spacesuit you can slip into in about 2 seconds.
3. Point 2, applies even if there is a party in the private quarters of
a colonist (therefore, you can’t just have a shelter sufficient for
the number of inhabitants of a given habitat).
4. Colonist will want to be able to go see other colonist or go to work without having to put on spacesuits.
My solution, and I am not sure it really is a good one, is to make
habitats in pairs. Have two habitats in a big tube, and a passageway
between the two habitats. The tube as a whole is pressurized, so you
don’t need an airlock to get out of a habitat. You would have
airlocks at the end of each tube. So once everyone is evacuated from
the tube, you can depressurize to put out a fire. You also need to have sufficient ventilation capabilities in the passageway. If there is a
fire in one habitat, there is likely to be some smoke going into the passageway. You don’t want to have to depressurize to get rid of
smoke every time someone burns his toasts.
Workspaces (offices, labs, machine shops etc) would be similarly paired
in tubes, albeit possibly much bigger tubes.
You can link the habitat tubes by the ends and sometimes on hubs. It
would be important to have a few hubs, not just a big loop with all the habitats in a circle. Having crisscrossing “streets” allow you to
go anywhere even if you have a section that is closed because of a
fire, smoke or what not.
What do you think? How would you design a colony?
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