The researchers were able to identify 13 new regions with good potential for wind resources. They confirmed that the 10 potential landing sites identified by NASA have sufficient winds to generate power.
What are the best sources that can provide continuous energy for human settlements that can be established on Mars in the future? According to a new study, wind energy is the best despite the low density of the atmosphere of this red planet, which represents only 1% of that on Earth.
And I used the study – which was recently published in the journal Nature Astronomy – a Martian climate simulation model developed by the US space agency (NASA) found that winds in some regions of the planet could provide, either alone or in combination with solar energy, enough energy to power a settlement of 6 individuals over the course of time.
Find a suitable source of energy
The success of a future manned mission to Mars depends on many factors including the choice of site. Previous scientific research has focused on examining the importance of location in terms of access to natural resources, including the availability of water or shelter, and has not necessarily taken into account potential sites’ energy generation capabilities.
AndThe researchers studied The use of solar and nuclear energy as potential sources of energy on Mars. However, the solar systems currently in use lack the ability to store energy to compensate for irregularities caused by daily and seasonal changes. Nuclear energy also carries radioactive risks that endanger mission personnel.
On the other hand, scientists did not consider the Martian winds as a usable energy source, given that the density of its atmosphere is very low and does not allow the winds that blow on the planet to produce large amounts of energy like those produced by winds on Earth.
Less powerful but useful
In this new study, researchers challenge that idea and show that winds in some regions of Mars can be strong enough to produce energy despite the low density of the atmosphere there.
According to a report Posted on Eos.org on February 9, researchers have found that winds can work with other energy resources, such as solar energy, to provide energy for human settlements on the Red Planet. In the future.
The researchers used a model developed by “NASA” that simulates wind patterns and strength across Mars and its daily and seasonal changes, and relies on topographical map data, heat storage, and the interaction of the atmosphere with the surface.
The model showed that wind energy on Mars reaches its peak in mid-latitudes and the poles, during the winter, at night, and during dust storms, due to the temperature contrast that creates strong polar vortices.
Particularly strong downhill winds are formed along the edges of craters and at the bottom of volcanic heights, similar to the breezes of mountains and valleys on Earth, says Victoria Hartwick, lead author of the study and a member of the research team at the NASA Ames Research Center, where a model was developed. simulation.
More opportunities
The researchers were able to identify 13 new regions with good potential for wind resources. And they confirmed that 10 potential landing sites identified by “NASA” have sufficient winds to generate energy.
Some of these areas were previously excluded due to insufficient availability of solar energy, and are located in the mid-latitudes and poles and close to subterranean ice deposits that could provide valuable resources for the human mission.
It will allow the use of a combination of wind turbines and solar arrays – according to a report Posted by Physics World – Continuously powering future manned missions to Mars.
Wind power could also revolutionize how humans get energy elsewhere in the solar system, such as Saturn’s moon Titan, which has a thick, stormy atmosphere.
As more potential Mars landing sites are identified, future studies could include high-resolution simulations to better understand how specific terrain and surface conditions affect winds.
However, there is still interdisciplinary work to be done, particularly from an aerospace and engineering point of view, to determine operational efficiency and technical feasibility, says Hartwick.
