Mars Base

pinshape

Years ahead of base construction, autonomous solar thermal rovers start leveling the ground, focusing the sun's rays onto the sand to sinter it into a glass foundation. The landing module touches down on the foundation, then unfolds into an angular geodesic junction. Special balloon-like rooms are slowly inflated from the lander. Made from highly elastic copolymer and synthetic spider silk, these balloons stay flexible until sprayed with a setting agent that hardens them into permanent crystalline domes. The hexagonal pockets of these domes are filled with algae, generating electricity in miniature bio-reactors that shade the interior during hot days. At night, the bioluminescent algae provides light and the gas-filled pockets insulate the base from Mars' freezing nighttime temperatures. The air quality and oxygen levels are maintained through careful monitoring of the large greenhouse, which has an adjoining food production facility. Human waste is treated in an exterior facility to avoid potential accidents, where water is returned for use and methane generated is stored in tanks and used to run the base.