Finally, nuclear power is not the best solution for a colony on Mars

[EN VIDÉO] Live and work like on the moon or on Mars The Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) is a research station located at an altitude of about 2,500 meters, in a dome of about 110 square meters, on the side of the Mauna Loa volcano, in Hawaii, installed. The goal: to simulate the life of human colonists who would settle on the Moon or on Mars. Not only to understand how the astronauts would be able to deal with each other in difficult conditions, but also to develop the most suitable methods and equipment for living and researching the Moon and Mars. © HI-SEAS

–
–
–
–
–

Experts say this repeatedly, in context global warming that we live, against nuclear power plant and renewable power generation makes no sense. Anyway on earth. But now the debate had suddenly reached an unexpected height. By exporting to the planet Mars. While most engineers working on demand validate the core option as the best alternative, researcher at the University of California at Berkeley (United States) revealed today that solar power could generate all the electricity they would need for future Mars colonies. For extended missions and even for permanent installations on the Red Planet.

Remember that NASA has been working on the development of mini nuclear reactors for several years kilogram. A reactor that can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And engineers currently consider it safe and effective to support exploration roboticsbut also the humans of Mars.

L’solar, it has some of the same weaknesses as we know it on Earth. The electricity generated must be stored if it is to be used at night. And on Mars, storm dust sometimes hides the air and covers everything with a red veil. We remember that plow from NASA Opportunity forced to rest by one of these storms in 2019.

The energy required is difficult to determine

But researchers at the University of California didn’t want to stop there. To compare the two solutions, they chose a systemic approach. Consider send to Mars of 480 days, including a travel time of about 420 days. Since they didn’t know exactly what the energy requirements of such a mission would be, physicist build mathematical models to explore different scenarios. Scenarios, including, for example, the need for temperature and pressure control, for fertilizer production foragriculture Mars, for the production of methane which is a propellant of rocket intended for return to earth or for the production of bioplastics.

They compared this need to Kilopower’s core production capabilities and a photovoltaic production system along with three storage options. Simple battery, productionhydrogen directly by photoelectrochemical cells or hydrogen production by electrolysis. A hydrogen that can then, as some on Earth imagine, be used to supply fuel cell during a Martian night or during a known dust storm.

Solar energy can be the most attractive

As a result, solar power is eventually presented on nearly half of Mars’ surface – especially in the equatorial regions – as a more attractive solution than nuclear power. If and only if solar production is coupled with a hydrogen electrolysis system.

Efficiency issues, but above all, the weight of the solar panels. For landing sites nearequator, for example, the researchers estimate that the total weight of the solar panels on board – plus the hydrogen storage system – will be about 8.3 tonnes – for a rocket carrying a payload of 100 tonnes. ,, compared to 9.5 tons for the Kilopower reactor system. It is enough to consider wearing an emergency panel. Which is not possible for the core system. However, the researchers point out that their work is only valid if we consider recently developed flexible solar panels. Lighter because it ends without structure in baja or even a glass stand as traditionally seen roof of our good old earth.