Some of the smartest people in the world work for NASA, but even with thousands of smart people but that may not be sufficient for a challenge like putting a permanent human settlement on Mars. So NASA is asking the public for ideas in meeting some of the many challenges.
Getting a crew to Mars will be one of the most difficult things that humans have ever done. NASA will have to get its astronauts there as rapidly as possible, while maintaining safe conditions. In addition to normal problems experienced by space travellers, such as muscle atrophy and cramped quarters radiation is going to pose a serious problem. A recent study suggests that individuals spending a long time in deep space could experience permanent brain damage due to exposure to cosmic radiation.
Once people arrive on the Red Planet however they are facing another, equally daunting set of challenges. Mars is a cold desert, the red color comes from the rust which covers the surface, the atmosphere is thin, there is insufficient oxygen and no readily available water. These are just a few of the known challenges. However, information on the Martian climate and weather patters is still being gathered and new challenges could emerge.
Assuming that several hundred million brains are better than a few thousand, NASA has announced the “Journey to Mars Challenge”. The challenge is, essentially, a public brainstorming session with prize money.
“Participants are asked to describe one or more Mars surface systems or capabilities and operations that are needed to achieve this goal and, to the greatest extent possible, are technically achievable, economically sustainable, and minimize reliance on support from Earth. NASA expects to make up to three awards at a minimum of $5,000 each from a total award pool of $15,000,” reads a statement from the space agency.
These ideas could address any one of a large number of challenges including food, water, shelter, communications, social interactions, medicine and exercise. Entries are not limited to these things though. NASA is encouraging participants to consider other challenges that may arise and propose solutions to those as well.
All of the challenges of human habitation on Mars will be made even more difficult by by distance. Mars is 140 million miles away and NASA is assuming that resupply opportunities for the colony will only come once every 500 days, when Mars and Earth reach the closest point in their orbits.
Submissions to the “Journey to Mars Challenge” should describe the development of the technology or capability and the “operational events” that will be required in the short and long term.
According to the NASA’s statement “submissions may consist of proposed approaches, capabilities, systems or a set of integrated systems that enable or enhance a sustained human presence on Mars. Solutions should include the assumptions, analysis, and data that justify their value. Submissions should include a process to develop, test, implement, and operate the system or capability.”
The relevance, simplicity, efficiency, creativity, comprehensiveness, feasibility and scalability of the project will all be taken into account when awarding prizes.
For additional information on the program, as well as other similar NASA challenges, visit the NASA “Innovation Pavilion“. For other ways to get involved with NASAs programs and initiatives, check out NASA’s Citizen Science pages.
