How would you build a house on Mars? I’ll show lots of pictures of possible Mars structures. We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses.Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every chemical element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4’s. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Most of my examples are by teams of the Mars Foundation, or my own work; and do not reflect plans of NASA nor the large aerospace contractors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can personally be involved and help the settlement of space. Disclaimer: Although I prefer small groups, due to the overwhelming interest in Mars this must be a large, somewhat boring, lecture style presentation. Sorry. And I have not been an MIT student for many decades. So, if you want to meet current MIT students with free discussion in a small group; take other classes instead.

How would you build a house on Mars? I’ll show lots of pictures of possible Mars structures. We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses. Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4’s. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can get involved and help the settlement of space.

Can we take a 3D Printer and Laser Cutter to Mars, and make most of the equipment needed to live there? Perhaps we can make whole habitats (aka houses) and greenhouses out of thin air on Mars (which is good, because thin air is the only kind Mars has). The Mars Foundation is working toward permanent settlement of Mars, using custom manufacturing to lower the cost. We also have a 3D printer at a Mars habitat in Hawaii, and could use your help demonstrating what can be made there. Come find out how expand beyond this planet

Bring your questions about how we might live in space, on Mars, on asteroids, on moons of planets, or on Luna (what Earthlings consider ‘the Moon’, forgetting that there are lots of moons). I will try to answer them, and maybe throw some questions back at you. Preference for questions about how to live in space, construct spinning space settlements for artificial gravity, grow food, find air and water, stay warn or cool, etc. There will be little math or equations, just general information.

How would you build a house on Mars? We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses. Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4’s. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can get involved and help the settlement of space.

Can we take a 3D Printer and Laser Cutter to Mars, and make most of the equipment needed to live there? Perhaps we can make whole habitats (aka houses) and greenhouses out of thin air on Mars (which is good, because thin air is the only kind Mars has). The Mars Foundation is working toward permanent settlement of Mars, using custom manufacturing to lower the cost. We also have a 3D printer at a Mars habitat in Hawaii, and could use your help demonstrating what can be made there. Come find out how expand beyond this planet, and consider joining the design project. Or, email Info@MarsFoundation.org .

We are working on a plan to start the settlement of Mars starting with only 2 people, with equipment to grow food and produce plastics, and bootstrap a fab-lab to manufacture more habitats and equipment. Taught by the Mars Foundation.

Bring your questions about how we might live in space, on Mars, on asteroids, on moons of planets, or on Luna (what Earthlings consider ‘the Moon’, forgetting that there are lots of moons). I will try to answer them, and maybe throw some questions back at you. Preference for questions about how to live in space, construct spinning space settlements for artificial gravity, grow food, find air and water, stay warn or cool, etc. There will be little math or equations, just general information.

How would you build a house on Mars? I’ll show lots of pictures of possible Mars structures. We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses. Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4’s. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can get involved and help the settlement of space.

New 3D printers may change the way we manufacture things, allowing us to make objects at home, which might otherwise be made in a factory and shipped to us. To live on Mars, we should be able to make construction materials from the resources found on Mars, even make plastic ‘from thin air’ (the only kind of air Mars has), and then use a 3D printer to make most any shaped plastic object we need. The Mars Foundation will be demonstrating and testing a 3D printer at a Mars Habitat in Hawaii. We are also planning a museum activity/exhibit which will show how to print yourself a house (well, maybe just the furniture) on Mars. Note, we will not be running a 3D printer during class, nor teach you CAD, that cannot be done in the time available.

Bring your questions about how we might live in Space, on Mars, asteroids, moons of planets, or Luna (what Earthlings ‘the Moon’, forgetting that there are lots of moons) I will try to answer them. and maybe throw some questions back at you. Preference for questions about how to live in space, construct spinning space settlements for artificial gravity, grow food, find air and water, stay warn or cool, etc. There will be little math or equations, just general information.

Would you go to Mars, if there was no way to come back to Earth? A major reason to explore Mars is to plan to live there, so why not just set up a settlement on the first trip? Note, Mars has every chemical element needed to grow food and live. And, much of the risk and cost of a trip to Mars is the return trip back to Earth. This is a general presentation of a possible mission plan to send just a couple of people to Mars, planning to stay many years, without really knowing if a return rocket will be available. This plan is a 'work in progress'.  I would like to hear your opinions and ideas to improve the mission plan.  (If you want to see a more polished plan, attend the other class on “How to Live on Mars “.)

New 3D printers may change the way we manufacture things, allowing us to make objects at home, which might otherwise be made in a factory and shipped to us. To live on Mars, we should be able to make plastic ‘from thin air’ (the only kind of air Mars has), and then use a 3D printer to make most any shaped plastic object we need. The Mars Foundation and a WPI group are planning a museum activity/exhibit which will show how to print yourself a house (well, maybe just the furniture) on Mars. It is not ready yet, but you can give us your opinion on what we have so far. If you cannot attend but wish to be kept informed, send a brief note to BMackenzie@alum.mit.edu

How would you build a house on Mars? I’ll show lots of pictures of possible Mars structures. We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses. Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4’s. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can get involved and help the settlement of space. If interested, we can form an internet discussion group to continue the discussion, or write to BMackenzie@alum.mit.edu to join the web discussion group.

Bring your questions about how we might live in Space, on Mars, asteroids, moons of planets, or Luna (what Earthlings ‘the Moon’, forgetting that there are lots of moons) I will try to answer them. and maybe throw some questions back at you. Preference for questions about how to live in space, construct spinning space settlements for artificial gravity, grow food, find air and water, stay warn or cool, etc. There will be little math or equations, just general information.

How would you build a house on Mars? I'll show lots of pictures of possible Mars structures. We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses. Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4's. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can get involved and help the settlement of space. If interested, we can form an internet discussion group to continue the discussion, or write to BMackenzie@alum.mit.edu to join the web discussion group.

Bring your questions. I will try to answer them. and maybe throw some questions back at you. Preference for questions about how to live in space, construct spinning space settlements for artificial gravity, create settlements on the surface of other planets and moons, grow food, find air and water, stay warn or cool, etc. There will be little math or equations, just general information.

Bring your questions. Preference for questions about how to travel to various planets, where to manufacture fuel, use of rotating tethers to fling you around the solar system, unusual types of rockets, space elevators, etc. There will little math or equations, just general information.

Do you have a food allergy, and find it awkward when a friend offers you pizza you can't eat? Or don't know what you can eat in the school cafeteria? Join us just before lunch and discuss it. This is not a formal class, just a time to give suggestions and hear how others with food allergies handle social situations and nutrition. Or just hang out and eat lunch. Bring your own bag lunch, we don't recommend sharing food at this meeting.

How would you build a House on Mars? I'll show lots of pictures of possible Mars structures. We will review the conditions on Mars which affect how you would live, work, grow food, and build houses. Differences from Earth include: low temperature, very low pressure, carbon-dioxide atmosphere, almost 25 hour days, long seasons, dust, and radiation. One advantage is lots of cheap land. The Mars soil and air have every element we need to live and build structures, but not in convenient building forms such as wooden 2x4's. We might have to make fiberglass, brick, or aluminum structures. They must be cylindrical to hold the internal air pressure, with air-locks for doors. Oh, incidentally, how to pay for the rocket to get you there is not included. I will also suggest ways you can get involved and help the settlement of space. If interested, we can form an internet discussion group to continue the discussion, or write to BMackenzie@alum.mit.edu to join the web discussion group. This is the same topic as class S1365, but only 1 hour long, and a smaller group.

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