The mad scientists are working on an idea that could see a bacteria build a base on Mars by eating the Mars soil or something. This seems like a great idea and I hope they apply poor security at the labs they’re working on to assure for a new sci-fi thriller IRL, The Bug that At the Earth. I just hope it happens after I’ve finished the bacteria-powered spaceship I’m working on in my Mother-in-law’s guest bathroom bathtub.
But seriously, here’s the actual story sans the fake sci-fi horror dramas…..
Using Bacteria to Build a Base on Mars -Universe Today
Excerpt:
When it comes to plans for future missions to space, one of the most important aspects will be the use of local resources and autonomous robots. This process is known as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), which reduces the amount of equipment and resources that need to be sent ahead or brought along by a mission crew. Meanwhile, autonomous robots can be sent ahead of a crew and have everything prepared for them in advance.
But what about bacteria that can draw iron from extraterrestrial soil, which would then be used to 3D print metal components for a base? That is the idea that is being proposed by PhD candidate Benjamin Lehner of the Delft University of Technology. On Friday (Nov. 22nd), he defended his thesis, which calls for the deployment of an uncrewed mission to Mars that will convert regolith into useable metal using a bacteria-filled bioreactor.
This proposal was the result of four years of research by Lehrner, who has a background in both nanotechnology and biology, that was conducted with the help of the ESA and NASA. The purpose of this research was to find ways to cut the associated costs of missions by creating a system that could enable the creation of mission habitats without the need for crews or sending supplies on ahead.
News Link
News Link Sourced by pioneeringnews.com
Be the first to comment