Difference between revisions of "Hab Consumable Masses in Mars Direct"
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==Reuse Rate== | ==Reuse Rate== | ||
| − | Based on technologies pioneered on the ISS, 90-95% closure for oxygen seems reasonable [citation needed]. Assuming the lower number, that is 0.1 kg per day of oxygen. Over 600 | + | Based on technologies pioneered on the ISS, 90-95% closure for oxygen seems reasonable [citation needed]. Assuming the lower number, that is 0.1 kg per day of oxygen. Over 600 days with 4 people, that is 240 kg. With 95% closure, that is 120 kg of oxygen. An intermediate value falls at 180 kg, right near Zubrin's 160 kg. |
==Total Mass for 600 day Mission== | ==Total Mass for 600 day Mission== | ||
Revision as of 21:51, 21 March 2010
This is the page for estimating the masses of consumables in Mars Direct as part of the Tsiolkovsky Compendium Project. On page 92 of his book The Case For Mars, Zubrin estimates them to be as follows:
- Consumables: 7.0 Tonnes consisting of (TCFM page 92):
- Oxygen: 160 kg total (1 kg/man*day at 80% reuse)
- Dry Food: 1600 kg total (.5 kg/man*day at 0% reuse)
- Whole Food: 3200 kg total (1 kg/man*day at 0% reuse)
- Potable Water: 0 kg total [?] (4 kg/man*day at 80% reuse)
- Wash Water: 2080 kg total (26 kg/man*day at 90% reuse)
Contents
Oxygen
Consumption Rate
On the space shuttle, Oxygen is used at a rate of .8 kg per person*day [3]. Zubrin's 1 kg per day seems reasonable, especially considering that astronauts will be using this Oxygen at a high rate. This reference [1] suggests that under a high metabolic load, such as that will probably exist for astronauts doing work on Mars, .96 kg per day is more reasonable. 1 kg per day is a good starting point considering margin necessities and losses.
Reuse Rate
Based on technologies pioneered on the ISS, 90-95% closure for oxygen seems reasonable [citation needed]. Assuming the lower number, that is 0.1 kg per day of oxygen. Over 600 days with 4 people, that is 240 kg. With 95% closure, that is 120 kg of oxygen. An intermediate value falls at 180 kg, right near Zubrin's 160 kg.
Total Mass for 600 day Mission
Based on the above, a figure of 180 kg of Oxygen is a reasonable estimate.
Dry Food
Consumption Rate
On the ISS, each crewmember needs 1.77 kg per day of dried food [2].
Reuse rate
Zubrin assumes a 0% reuse rate for food. This basically assumes no regeneration of food, and since food is basically not regenerated on any system, there is no reason this should change unless significant farming is to be implemented. In the opinion of the writer (Jumpboy11j), farming would be experimental as opposed to a staple in the mission, and for this reason it is unwise to count on farming to provide a significant part of the food allowance.
Total Mass for 600 day Mission
1.77 kilograms per day over 600 days is a total of 1,062 kg per person over the course of the mission. With the standard 4 person Mars Direct crew, that is a total mass of 4,248 kg of food. Zubrin uses the much lower estimate of just 1,000 kg total based off .5 kg per day. This is a huge discrepancy, and appears to show that Zubrin is being overly optimistic. On the other hand, based on the minimum possible energy content for totally dry food of 4 calories per gram, and a daily calorie intake of 2,500 calories, which is on the high side if the crew is mixed-gender [1], each crewmember will need .625 kg/day of food. Since the food will also contain significant amounts of fats and proteins which have a higher specific energy, .5 kg/person per day for totally dehydrated food is theoretically possible. However, 1.77 kg per person*day is more realistic given that is what is used in real life.
