Researchers from the Dutch Delft University of Technology and NASA/ESA recommend that we build a Mars base with the use of bacteria.
SpaceX’s vision of a future Martian settlement. Perhaps the initial preparatory work for such a colony can be done by bacteria - Image Credit: SpaceX
Researchers from the Dutch Delft University of Technology and NASA/ESA recommend that we build a Mars base with the use of bacteria. In short, the idea is to send a spacecraft containing bacteria to Mars several years ahead of sending human settlers. Those bacteria can then start mining for iron that will later be used by human pioneers when building settlements.
Benjamin Lehner, a Ph.D. student from the Delft University of Technology, mapped out a complete plan to adequately prepare for human settlers. He proposes to send an initial capsule containing a bioreactor, an uncomplicated rover that is capable of digging, and a 3D printer. The reactor will be filled with a type of bacteria called 'Shewanella oneidensis' that can convert the non-usable naturally occurring iron in the Martian soil to usable magnetite that is easy to extract. This magnetite can then be converted to components like iron plates with the 3D printer.
Disregarding the potential pitfalls of sending bacteria to Mars for a moment, let's focus on the potential benefits. If we were to send human settlers without bacterial support, they would need to take all tools and materials to build settlements with them, forcing us to send more or bigger rockets. Currently, the costs of carrying 1 kilogram of materials to Mars are staggeringly high. Although it is expected that these costs will become lower over time, the total costs of sending all equipment and a portion of the needed raw materials with the first human astronauts would still be significant.
The proces of converting Iron as found in the Martian soil into Magnetite - Image Credit: Benjamin Lehner / TU Delft
Additionally, humans will initially not be very adequately equipped to deal with the radiation on Mars. Having a large amount of previously mined materials and perhaps some prefab buildings will speed up the process towards building superior protective shelter.
The bacteria can reproduce themselves and are more or less resistant to radiation. Part of the plan is to feed them with microalgae that convert sunlight to nutrients and oxygen. An additional benefit is that their waste products can later be used to enrich the martian soil for growing crops. The researchers estimated that a single 1400 liter (approximately 370 gallon) reactor would be able to generate 350 kg (approximately 770 pound) of usable magnetite per year. After slightly more than three years, there would be more raw materials than would fit in the capsule that originally brought the reactor to the surface of Mars.
Getting back to potential pitfalls, there are several issues attached to sending microbes/bacteria to the red planet, like possible harmful contamination. You can read more about these issues as well as the views of Professor Jose Lopez and his team on how to address them in this article: Why microbes and not humans should be the first 'Earthly pioneers' to settle on Mars
It's great to see so many bright minds working out plans to colonize Mars effectively and efficiently. Ideas like these bring a future where humanity is a multi-planetary species a lot closer to reality.
Sources and further reading: To new frontiers, Microbiology for nanotechnology and space exploration / TU Delft press release via PWC media
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