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Published Jan 23, 2024

944: Zach Weinersmith | Out-of-This-World Hurdles to Colonizing Mars

Zach Weinersmith, co-author of 'A City on Mars,' explores the multifaceted challenges of colonizing Mars, from the health risks of radiation and microgravity to the economic, legal, and ethical obstacles, all while examining potential solutions for sustainable space living.
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  • Biosphere Design

    Creating a self-sustaining biosphere for space is a monumental challenge. explains that a biosphere, or closed-loop ecology, must generate oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and maintain ecological loops without external interaction, except for sunlight 1. The Biosphere 2 project, a sealed facility the size of three football fields, demonstrated both the potential and pitfalls of such systems. Despite surviving for two years, the crew faced oxygen depletion, starvation, and severe interpersonal conflicts 2.

    The system was absorbing oxygen out, and they didn't know that. They couldn't figure out where the oxygen was going. It's a really weird thing to have in a sealed system for oxygen to just disappear.

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    These challenges highlight the complexity of creating a viable biosphere for Mars or other extraterrestrial habitats.

       

    Resource Utilization

    Utilizing local resources on Mars and the Moon is crucial for sustainable colonization. Zach discusses in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves using local materials to support human settlements 3. While Mars has essential elements like carbon, the Moon's lack of carbon makes it less viable for long-term habitation. The economic feasibility of mining resources from the Moon is also questionable, as the costs often outweigh the benefits 4.

    If there were bars of gold on the surface of the moon, it would not be worth it to go get them.

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    This underscores the importance of choosing the right celestial body for resource extraction and habitation.

       

    Food Production

    Growing food in space presents numerous challenges. Zach notes that while Biosphere 2 required extensive labor for minimal food production, optimizing such systems is essential for future space colonies 5. Algae and vegan diets are considered efficient options, but they may not provide the variety needed for long-term happiness and health 6.

    Nobody wants to live off algae.

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    Balancing efficiency with nutritional and psychological needs is key to successful food production in space.

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