FromMoontoMars

(MarsExplorationProgram)
C.P.McKay
NASAAmesResearchCenter
cmckay@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Greenhouses at a Mars Base: 2025+

Whenwegowewilltakeplantswithus.

Infact,wellsendthemfirst.

Neartermmissions
Usingthemartiansoilandatmosphereforaplantgrowthmodule

MarsExplorationProgram
AdvisoryGroup
GOAL IV: PREPARE FOR HUMAN EXPLORATION
B.Objective:Conductinsituengineeringscience
demonstrations(investigationslistedinpriorityorder)
7. Investigation:Demonstrateplantgrowthinthe
Martianenvironment.
DemonstratetheabilityoftheMartianenvironment(soil,
solarflux,radiation,etc.)tosupportlife,suchasplant
growth,tosupportfuturehumanmissions.Validation
requiresinsitumeasurementsandprocessverification.
http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/

Do it on the Moon first

Partial gravity
Radiation
Planetary protection

Mission Concept
- Lunar plant growth module mission as a precursor for
Mars.
- Step towards Martian greenhouses for human
exploration.

Moon

Mars

Advantages of Lunar Precursor Mission

Close proximity to Earth
[3 days (Moon) vs 6 months (Mars)]
Easier landing
[fewer unknown design variables, i.e. no atmosphere]
Continuous communication during mission
[always on lunar nearside]
Technology demonstration of plant growth chambers,
engineering systems
Demonstrate capability to comply with planetary protection
guidelines before landing on prime astrobiological target of
Mars

Landing Sites
Requirements
Nearside of Moon for
continuous line-of-sight
communication with Earth
Minimal terrain-related
landing hazards (flat surface
with low slope, minimal rocks
and boulders, sufficient regolith
coverage if using lunar soil)
Suggested landing site is Oceanus
Procellarum because a) meets selection
criteria and b) previous in situ studies
from Luna 9, Luna 13, Apollo 12,
Surveyor 3.

Land on terminator to allow

for maximum mission lifetime
(limited by sunlight availability)

Follow-On Missions

Lunar Plant Growth Module

Martian Plant Growth Module

Lunar Greenhouses
Martian Greenhouses

Fly me to the moon

The Antarctica Model

Fiftyyearsofcontinuousoperations,115monthtours.
Threepermanentbaseswithtemporaryfieldcamps.
Dec1956:Basesestablished,IGYColdWarcompetition.
Scienceexplorationwasrationale,NSFassumedresponsibilityforsciencein
19XX.
1970s,1980s:USAntarcticresearchprogramoperatedasapartofforeign
policy&militarypreparednessforcoldweatheroperations.
1990s:ColdWarends,militaryactivitiesinUSARPreduced.
2000:Helicoptertransportprovidedbyprivatesector.
2005:Civilianscience(NSF)managedprogramentirely.Contractoroperation
ofbase(RatheonPolarServices)
AirForceprovidestransporttoAntarctica,CoastGuardprovidesicebreaker.
2006:NSFdirectedtoassumeoperationoficebreakers.

Applying the Antarctic Model to

the Moon
2018:NASAestablishesscientificresearchbaseonMoon.
2023:Basedeclaredoperational.Geologicalscienceactivities
becomepartofNSF.NASAfocusesonMars(andbeyond).
NASAprovidestransportationtoandfromMoon.
2030:PrivatesectorprovidestransporttoandfromMoon.
NASAisworkingonMars.