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Mars: A Volcanic World pp 279–307Cite as

Potential Futures in Human Habitation of Martian Lava Tubes

Abstract

Lava tubes exists as volcanic features not only on Earth, but even on other worlds. Lava tubes are the most practical and effective places where to install the first human bases on Mars. We review the human to Mars architectures currently being developed, subsequently we describe a context for the use of lava tubes for human habitation. The architecture for the use of in-situ resources as fuel for a return rocket, the use of a landing vehicle as the initial habitat are discussed. Also, the core landing site selection criteria are discussed, including how the access to a lava tube might change the landing approach. Additionally, the challenges to constructing a larger scale habitat for a growing population necessary to achieve a permanent base and the possible solutions are proposed. Whether lava tubes are present on the Martian surface, the shielding effect that they can provide is exceptionally advantageous in both logistical and economical terms for a planetary mission, since they do not require a huge mass load to be brought on a space mission and minimize considerably the work to be done on the dangerous Martian surface after landing—however, habitats on the surface still need to be considered where lava tubes are absent. Lava tubes can naturally protect from deadly radiations, extreme temperature variations, dust storms, and micrometeorite impacts. Thermal mining inside lava tubes is proposed as a realistic way to extract water ice from below the surface and use it for living purposes. Robots and humans should work together in order to detect and access the best lava tube close to the selected landing site. Lava tubes on Earth or the Moon can result in a great opportunity for conducting analog Martian missions.

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Fig. 1

Courtesy of NASA

Fig. 2

Image credits OeWF/Voggeneder

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Courtesy of HiRISE/NASA-JPL/University of Arizona

Fig. 6

Courtesy of USGS—Astrogeology Science Center

Fig. 7

Courtesy of DARPA

Fig. 8

Courtesy of XArc

Fig. 9

Image credits Emilia Rosselli Del Turco and Irene Zaccara

Fig. 10

Courtesy of XArc

Fig. 11

Courtesy of NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via A. Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Nicola Mari

  2. Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), Etrichgasse 18, Innsbruck, Austria

    Gernot Groemer & Nina Sejkora

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  1. Nicola Mari
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  2. Gernot Groemer
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  3. Nina Sejkora
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Correspondence to Nicola Mari .

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  1. Instituto de Investigación en Astronomía y Ciencias Planetarias, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó, Chile

    Prof. Dr. Giovanni Leone

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Mari, N., Groemer, G., Sejkora, N. (2021). Potential Futures in Human Habitation of Martian Lava Tubes. In: Leone, G. (eds) Mars: A Volcanic World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84103-4_11

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