Publication Date:
2020-01-23
Description:
Favorable indications of massive quantities of water on Mars have initiated studies of potential changes to human Mars missions. Using a technique known as a Rodriguez Well to melt the ice, store the resulting water in a subsurface ice cavity until needed, and then pump water to the surface for use is one potential means to effect these changes. A computer simulation of the Rodriguez Well in a terrestrial environment is one of the engineering tools being used to characterize the performance of this type of well on Mars. An experiment at the NASA Johnson Space Center is gathering data for convective heat transfer and evaporation rates at Mars surface conditions so that this computer simulation can be properly modified to predict performance on Mars. While quantitative results await processing, tests have indicated that a pool of water can be maintained at 1C to 2 C while at Mars surface temperatures and pressures.
Keywords:
Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
Type:
JSC-E-DAA-TN74283
,
International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration; Jan 13, 2020 - Jan 17, 2020; Tierr del Fuego; Argentina
Format:
application/pdf
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