Physics
Scientific paper
Jan 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002iaf..confe.234m&link_type=abstract
IAF abstracts, 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, The Second World Space Congress, held 10-19 October, 2002 in Houston, TX, USA.,
Physics
Scientific paper
When humans go to Mars, as they inevitably will, their missions must be preceded by a planned, deliberate development of the infrastructure to support long term human habitability. An enabling technology, central to life science, planetary geology, and human exploration engineering, is the discovery and development of a source of liquid water, from Mars in-situ resources. These missions face a number of barriers, real and perceived, not the least of which is the cost. The availability of liquid water could greatly reduce the costs of a human mission, and potentially accelerate the arrival date of the first humans. But an extensive precursor robotic exploration and development program will be required to determine the feasibility this technology. To insure utilization of the best possible state of the art in exploration and drilling technologies, while holding costs to a minimum, NASA has turned to the private sector. Commercially-available technologies not only include the mechanisms for making holes in the Martian surface, but also include a well-developed automation capability, and the technologies for in-situ scientific analysis of samples retrieved. Technologies for finding the best locations to drill (in precursor missions) are also available from the commercial drilling industry. NASA has formed an informal partnership with Baker Hughes, Inc., an industry leader in drilling technology. A prototype drill has been developed and tested by NASA, based on Baker Hughes designs. This development is leading to a highly efficient, very light weight coring drill capable of drilling to 3-5 kilometers in depth on the Martian surface. The drill will weigh from 50 to 1500 kilograms, depending on drilling depth, and can use power available from solar sources. Baker Hughes can deliver a flight version of this drill in 2-3 years, in time for Mars drilling missions to be conducted as early as 2007.
Derkowski B.
Fontana P.
MacFarlane Joseph J.
Mandell H.
No associations
LandOfFree
Drilling for Water on Mars using Commercial Technologies: an Enabling Precursor to an Early, Affordable Human Mars Mission does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Drilling for Water on Mars using Commercial Technologies: an Enabling Precursor to an Early, Affordable Human Mars Mission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Drilling for Water on Mars using Commercial Technologies: an Enabling Precursor to an Early, Affordable Human Mars Mission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1331428