Pressure Vessel: Our problem that we need to look out for is that we’re going to need a pressure vessel in order to be able to survive on Mars. For materials we can use both metallic and Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs), piping and valves. These materials store gases and liquids that are essential either to the launch process or on-orbit operations. Their reliability is very critical since after they leave the launch pad they cannot be inspected until they return to earth. They go through a lot of testing to make sure that all of the qualifications are met. This is put place in the hab to create an “earth-like” environment. 

 

​Oxygen: Our problem is creating oxygen to live on Mars. Our solution is to use an oxygenator which would produce enough oxygen to live. “The oxygenator is a system that generates oxygen using the carbon dioxide from the MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) fuel generator.” This takes the oxygen out of carbon dioxide, which will allow us to produce enough oxygen to live. Without this we would be long gone, the oxygenator is the most important piece of equipment in the Hab. 

 

​Radiation shielding: Our problem is that Mars has a very thin atmosphere allowing lots of solar radiation. We can solve this problem by using the Mars rocks and soil to cover our hab.  Part of the main section of the hab with be partly underground with rocks bordering the edges to partly cover the canvas. “The dense layer of Mars crap all over it protected it from long-term solar damage.” This proves that the Mars rocks can protect us from solar radiation and will save astronauts from getting really bad skin cancer.  

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​Water: Our problem is that we do not have enough water to be wasting any. Our solution will be to use a water re claimer. NASA currently uses water re claimers that recycles every drop of water that is used. “The Environmental Control and Life Support System recovers and recycles water from everywhere: urine, hand washing, oral hygiene, and other sources. Through the Water Recovery System (WRS), water is reclaimed and filtered, ready for consumption.” This way we will never run out of usable water. 

 

​Food: Our problem is that we will not be able to grow food on Mars without water. Our solution is to produce our own water and to use it just to water our food. To produce water you need hydrazine and oxygen, then you burn it and water will form. We have 292 liters of hydra-zine and unlimited oxygen because of our oxygenator. We need 300 liters of liquid O2 to make 600 liters of water since each liter of hydrazine makes 2 liters of water. “All you have to do is run it over a catalyst and it will turn into nitrogen and hydrogen.The end result is that five molecules of hydrazine becomes five molecules of harmless N2 and ten molecules of lovely H2.” So to sum it up, we will burn 292 liters of hydrazine which will create almost 600 liters of water which is plenty to maintain our farm. This will all be performed in a separate space in our Hab so that it doesn’t blow up. 

 

​Energy: Our problem is that we have no source of energy on Mars. We can solve this problem by using solar arrays. “The solar cells are made from purified chunks of the element silicon. These cells directly convert light to electricity using a process called photovoltaics.” “Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity.” This would allow us to captures the sun's energy on Mars and allow us to fully power the Hab and stay alive.