NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concept - Academic Linkage
Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concept - Academic Linkage, or RASC-AL, is an annual competition hosted by NASA for universities across the United States. The 2013/2014 Drexel team was led to the NASA Forum by me and was chosen as one of the 16 teams selected from all collegiate participants, gradute teams and undergraduate teams. This list included universities such as Princeton University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and Georgia Tech. University.
This GIF shows the PHAME habitat and the connected inflatable habitats divided by airlocks due to low pressure leakage. These habitats are surrounded by Martian regolith in order to mitigate the effects of radiation and help protect the occupants from debris and intense heat.
This image shows the insides of one of the inflatable dome like habitats. The living spaces include benches, and separations that any modern home provides for comfort and decorum. As not shown in the image, the decorum is also improved by incorporating painted walls using different colors for rooms of varying functions.
Each habitat will reside four occupants. Each of them will now be able to enjoy the benefits of private and personalized living spaces.
This GIF shows the PHAME habitat and the connected inflatable habitats divided by airlocks due to low pressure leakage. These habitats are surrounded by Martian regolith in order to mitigate the effects of radiation and help protect the occupants from debris and intense heat.
Drexel University planned the formation of a Mars colony, PHAME, eventually making it independent of resources from Earth. Due to the limiting $16 B budget and Earth to Mars travel windows every 2 years (approximately), this was a challenging and exciting feat.
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In inclusion of the management of a 10 student team with students of diverse disciplines, I contributed by planning and formulating the production of fuel, water, soil, metals and breathable oxygen for daily use increasing the self sustenance of the colony keeping little or no dependence on Earth to Mars shuttles.
This 10 month long voluntary project demanded effort equivalent to 10 hours a week from each member of the team. The deliverables included:
1. 5 page Abstract
2. 15 page Technical Report
3. Presentation
4. Poster
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The links below can be clicked to be transported to the website dedicated to the Drexel Space Systems Labs and the RASC-AL paper.