Mars Base Alpha - Mars Base Contest Entry

thingiverse

I've designed this permanent settlement center on Mars for safety, livability, and scientific exploration. Viewing the exterior of the base, the large building in the foreground is the central base. The two corridors lead to the landing structures. The straight corridor leads to the rocket landing pad. The second leads to the probe landing pad. There are three satellite dishes for communication next to the probe landing pad. There is a large field of solar panels adjacent to the satellite dishes that are connected to a small building that collects their power and transfers it to the central base. The solar panels can collapse to a height of two feet and a wall surrounding the field can rise to four feet. A slightly curved roof will extend over the area to protect the panels from storms. For the interior of the base, the bottom floor is used for the storage of food, water, oxygen, spare parts, space probes, and space suits. The second level is used for crew quarters and also contains a fuel cell with a generator. The control center in the second level usually directs system operations but the control over systems can be switched to either level. The generator on the second level is used for power and can also filter air in and out of the base. Internal carbon dioxide is flushed to the greenhouses on the third level and the generator will also filter in oxygen from the outside to save reserves. The third level is used to house gardens for food and oxygen and contains a secondary control center that primarily monitors systems. The ladders on each level have lockers next to them in case a level is breached and can only be used by those in space suits. There are air tight doors for each room and ladder entrance in case of a exterior wall breach. The base will be transported by six rockets: one for the solar panels and probes, one for the satellite dishes, another for main base and computers, two for spare parts, oxygen, and landing pads, and a final one for food and supplies. #MakerBotMars Instructions I used Sketchup Pro.