When one thinks of the planet Mars, one immediately thinks that the temperatures there are incredibly hot. On the contrary, despite its fiery appearance, it is actually pretty cold: temperatures fluctuate between 70°F and -225°F. So, you can imagine that an inflatable structure named “Mars Ice Home” would be perfectly suited for the Red Planet.
Mars Ice Home: What makes it tick?
Developed by NASA’s Langley Research Center in collaboration with SEArch+ and CloudsAO—two entities specializing in advanced architecture—the Mars Ice Home is a large, deployable habitat that stands two stories high. It is designed to provide sustainable living conditions for astronauts on Mars. Think of it almost like a futuristic igloo.
Much like igloos, which protects occupants from the cold due to its insulatory properties, the Ice Home also performs a similar function: it utilizes Martian water ice to regulate temperature and shield its occupants from harmful radiation.
How it works is that the Ice Home’s membranes contain translucent cellular pockets. When water ice is added to these pockets, they freeze, forming a protective layer that provides thermal insulation for the habitat. Combined with a layer of carbon dioxide gas that can be extracted from the Martian atmosphere and lines its interior, this stabilizes the temperatures within the habitat.
Ice is also an effective shield against radiation, absorbing harmful cosmic rays that occupants would be exposed to outside.
The features of this ice home make it suitable for interplanetary living
Currently, the Mars Ice Home is designed to house four crew members on a long-term basis. The habitat consists of various living and working spaces: a wardroom, a library, a science laboratory, a greenhouse, and quarters for the occupants, among other areas.
For ease of access and to transport equipment and supplies, the Ice Home features a robust airlock at its entrance. This enables movement between the protected interior and the Martian environment, which reduces the risk of astronauts being exposed to radiation.
The translucency of the habitat is also crucial, in that it allows natural light to enter the structure. This is beneficial for the growing of plants in the greenhouse. It also promotes physical and mental wellbeing among the crew members: from maintaining a diurnal cycle to allowing views of the Martian landscape, the habitat’s architecture is key to keeping occupants healthy, comfortable, and motivated during their stay on the Red Planet.
The habitat holds promise, but there are still concerns that need to be addressed
Theoretically, the Mars Ice Home is a perfect solution to sustainable living in a Martian environment. However, there are still concerns about the structural integrity of the habitat as well as its long-term viability.
Per a risk study carried out in 2017, deployment, filling the cellular pockets with water ice, and shielding were identified as significant challenges. It would require careful construction by robotic assets to ensure that the Ice Home is operating efficiently and safely before the astronauts’ arrival. It would take approximately 1,310 days for the pockets to be completely filled, which could affect the timing of manned missions.
Shielding also poses a problem, as the effectiveness of the habitat’s ice layer may weaken over time due to exposure to radiation, fluctuating temperatures, sand storms, and other environmental factors on Mars.
Despite these issues, the Mars Ice Home is a game-changer for interplanetary living. So long as NASA and their collaborators continue to research and refine the concept, it may prove to become a viable habitat for astronauts in the future. Ultimately, it could lead to human colonization on Mars and pave the way for space exploration.