Toe of Earthly Glacier ... On Mars there won't be snow ... and debris will cover the ice more deeply
KEY 2024 Goals:
- Mars Cargo Starship Landing On Mars
- Deployment of rovers and drones to look for ice and surface geology best for basing
- Deployment of landing beacons for 2026 Starships
SpaceX specific steps:
2021/2022: Cargo Starship test to LEO
2022: Repeated Cargo Starship placement of Starlinks
2022: Cargo Starship re-fueling
2022: Cargo Starship NASA Deep Space Network integration with in-flight test
2022: Cargo Starship deployable and retractable solar array in-flight test
2023: Testing of rover and drone deployment from a Mars specific Cargo Starship
Supporting actions:
2021 on: Mars mission specific robotics, robotics, robotics ... SpaceX should sponsor and help fund robotics challenges at high schools, university and other organizations. Many more new engineers and workers are needed for a serious Mars program
2021 on: Mars mission specific deep base location research ... tasking MRO if needed
It's all about the ice, and robotics to get at it.
CRITICAL 2026 Goals (based on complete Mars 2024 success):
- Multiple Mars Cargo Starship Precision Landings on Mars
- Deployment of specialize rovers and drones to process ice
- Remote deployment of solar power plant
- Remote deployment of MethLOX factory
SpaceX specific steps:
2021 on: Building and testing of ever more capable MethLOX factories w/storage
2021 on: Sponsoring specific research into glacier ice extraction
2023: Demonstrating a 100 KW (on Mars) Solar power plant
2024: Demonstrating packing and robotic deployment of a 100 KW (on Mars) solar power plant
Supporting actions:
2023 on: Rollout Solar Power Plant Challenge
Toe of Earthly Glacier ... On Mars there won't be snow ... and debris will cover the ice more deeply
Water ice is the key to human habitation on Mars. There are two primary ways to access large quantities of ice at low cost, first getting it in nearly pure form from glaciers and second, digging into the Mars soil 1-2m to expose ice rich soil.
Blasting Hanging Glaciers
South Pole Station
KEY 2028 Goals:
- Land the first crew on Mars
- Live safely on Mars with high degrees of radiation mitigation
- If needed complete building of and operation of 1000 MT per year MethLOX facility
- Return samples to Earth in 2030 ... crew return option
Greatly expanded university involvement starting in 2021
Starship Nosecone Challenge
Based on SpaceX's own HLS Starship mockup ...
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