The document outlines plans for a proposed deployable plant habitat on Mars as a precursor to human missions. It would contain various plant species and fungi in a closed ecosystem to test viability of oxygen production and food growth. The habitat would be transported collapsed and inflated on Mars, using local resources and sustainable design. Sensors would monitor plant health and environment, with data transmitted to Earth for research and public engagement through virtual simulations.

2. 1 INTRODUCTION
2 MISSION DESIGN SUMMARY
3 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
4 CHALLENGES, CONSTRAINTS, RATIONALE
5 SITE SELECTION
6 PLANT HABITAT
7 EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
8 INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
9 BIOME HABITATION SYSTEMS
10 MISSION CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONS
11 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
12 MANNED MISSION ARRIVAL AND FUTURE USE

3. ABOUT THE PROJECT

4. BUILDING AN
ATMOSPHERE
RESPONSIVE
MOBILE
ENVIRONMENTS

7. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM(S)
SKIN/
PRESSURE
INTERIOR
STRUCTURE
MECH
SYSTEMS
STRUCTURE /
DEPLOYMENT
LIGHT HEAT INTERIOR
ADAPTATION
PLANT
GROWTH
TECH
SYSTEMS
EARTH
INTERFACE
COMMS &
CONTROL
BAA RME
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
CIVIL
ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
+MORE
HCIBIOLOGYPHYSICS HUMANITIES
ARCHITECTURE TECHNOLOGYART DESIGN

8. OUTCOMES
SCALE
PROTOTYPE
A to-scale
prototype of the
exterior structure
and skin deployed
at CMU by end of
semester
INTERIOR
PROTOTYPE
A working analog
prototype using
available Earth
materials and
technologies to
support plant
growth
THEORETICAL
DESIGN
End-to-end
mission design
for a future
deployment of a
plant habitat on
Mars
PUBLIC
EXHIBITION
Open event that
engages the
campus in a
celebration of our
interdisciplinary
outcomes.

9. MISSION DESIGN SUMMARY
NASA projects a possible human presence on Mars as early as 2030s.
Before such an event can happen, we must develop systems capable of sustaining
life on the red planet, lightweight and small enough to make the journey and resilient
enough to survive without help from home.
Many agree that the first step towards proving we can create a sustainable habitat is
to design one first for plants. Recognizing that this habitat may not only be a place to
survive but thrive and be a beacon and remote connection to and for life on Earth,
students from across campus have come together to develop a concept for
an deployable autonomous habitat that can sustain life on Mars.

10. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

11. MISSION STATEMENT
Exploring Viability for Future of Humans on Mars
● Project Viriditas seeks to plant an exploratory biome on the surface of
Mars. This habitat will act as a precursor to manned missions to the
Red planet
● The project’s main focus is to provide an inspirational monument to
human exploration of space. The design of the structure is intended to
engage the public with a uniquely shaped habitat
● The biome will also function as an experiment in organism viability and
will be consistently collecting data that can be applied in various fields

12. 3. HUMAN
CONTACT AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL
CONNECTION
Plants within
habitat would
serve as a
biophilic agent for
any future
manned missions
2. VIABILITY OF
OXYGEN
PRODUCTION
Sixty plants for
two years will
produce enough
oxygen for a crew
of two humans for
two months
1. VIABILITY OF
FOOD
PRODUCTION
Acres of plants
will be needed to
completely
support human
life, but fresh food
may enhance diet
4. ENDURING
MONUMENT TO
HUMAN
EXPLORATION
Inspiration of
sustaining life on
another planet will
encourage
communal efforts
in space exploring

13. MISSION TIMELINE
2016:
Prototyping
begins
2080:
Plants have
produced enough
oxygen to sustain
crew
2030:
Mission is
sent with
roughly 60
plants
2032:
Habitat erected,
air is stored
and plants are
monitored
2038: Enough
air is stored
for two people
for 2 months
2040:
Humans arrive,
maintain hab
and add plants
Focus on Data Gathering
& Oxygen Production
Focus on Proof of
Concept
Focus on support
for human habitation

14. DESIRED IMPACT
Third Party Takeaway
● The process of keeping a closed-loop ecosystem functioning on
another planet will provide a useful testing ground for design and
creation of a human habitat
● The data gathered from the habitat will be informative to plant
lifecycle and adaptation research
● The technology used in the monitoring and control of the biome
will augment current extraterrestrial communication protocols
● The earth interaction component will provide inspiration to people
living on earth as they get to experience a martian environment
with familiar earth organisms.

15. CHALLENGES, CONSTRAINTS,
AND RATIONALE
Understanding the Problem

16. TRANSPORTATION
Deployable Architecture
4.1.1 Travel Duration
With current technology 6month travel time
4.1.2 Payload Size
Fits into the payload bay of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy or SLS
Rocket (15’ (4.6m) inner diameter)
Structure is meant to transport in the collapsed state
4.1.3 Materials and Seed Survival in Transit
Plants remain dormant in seed state during transit

17. MARTIAN ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Issues
Temperature Ranges Soil Water
Atmosphere Light Dust
Radiation
Precipitation
-133C to 27C
MONTH LONG DUST
STORMS
SEASONAL CO2
FROST
600PA (~0.6% EARTH)
PERCHLORATES
MEAN SOLAR
IRRADIANCE 588.6
W/m2 (40% EARTH
INTENSITY)
POLES
SUBSURFACE
LIQUID BRINE
Little Protection
from Solar
Radiation; avg. of
300 mSv

18. MARTIAN ENVIRONMENT
Design Constraints
Temperature Ranges Soil Water
Atmosphere Light Dust
Radiation
Precipitation
Use Martian light to grow
plants
Settle far from where
dust storms originate
and use vibration of the
drill to shake off dust.
Surfaces which are not
conducive to dust
collection
Create earth like
atmosphere inside
habitat for plants despite
the outside atmosphere
being 0.6% that of earth’s
Use partial sunlight to
light the plants in the
habitat; be wary of
radiation plants are
receiving
Collect water from
martian substrate using
drill
Not using Martian soil for
plant substrate

19. MISSION OPERATIONS
Communications Constraints
● One way transmission delay ranges from 13 min to 24 min
● 2 week period of time when Mars is out of view (i.e, no contact)
● Habitat must operate completely autonomously
● Data must be stored onboard for a brief amount of time

20. SITE SELECTION
Finding the Balance

22. (site map)

23. AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES
Light Water
Month Hours of Sunlight
January 11.25
February 11.50
March 11.85
April 12.25
May 12.70
June 13.00
July 13.00
August 12.75
September 12.40
October 12.00
November 11.60
December 11.30

24. PLANT HABITAT
A Constructed Ecosystem

25. ECOSYSTEM PRECEDENTS
Our Question: Can we create a closed loop system based on
symbiotic biological interactions?
Biosphere 2 MELiSSA Project - ESA Living Machines: John Todd

26. Interacting Layers
Photosynthesizing, decomposing, and
algal layers are, grown simultaneously.
By designing symbiotic relationships, we
are replicating Earth ecosystems in Martian
terrains and beyond.
The layers provide supplemental nutrition
to future space crews, along with gas and
nutrient exchanges between layers.

27. Gas exchange
The decomposer layer produces
carbon dioxide when it breaks down
organic matter from the
photosynthesizing layer.
This provides necessary gases for
the photosynthesizing and algal
layers, which in turn produces
oxygen for the decomposer layer.

28. 6.1.3 Algae
Spirulina
N2
, P, CO2
, and light consumer
O2
producer
Growth rate: 30% per day (cont.
light)
Air Temp: 25-38ºC
Water Temp: 25ºC
Rel. Humidity: 50-75%
pH Range: 9-10
Light: irradiance 60-100µE m-2
s
6.1.2. Decomposers
Oyster Mushrooms (Grey Dove &
Italian)
Air Temp: 18 -50ºC (ideal early
stage T range), 10-18ºC (ideal
fruiting T range)
Water Temp: 25ºC
Rel. Humidity: 80-90%
pH Range: 5-6.5
ORGANISM SELECTION + DIVERSITY
6.1.1 Photosynthesizers
Baby Bibb Lettuce
125 PPM of Nitrogen during all
growth stages
UA CEAC nutrient blend
Air Temp: 24/19ºC Day/Night
Water Temp: 25ºC
Rel. Humidity: 50-75%
pH Range: 5.5-6.5
D.O >3 ppm
Light: 17 mol/m2
per 24 hrs

29. GROWTH MECHANISMS
Soil Based
High weight payload
Inability to restore nutrients in
soil
Quantity of nutrients in
Martian soil might be hard to
ascertain
Aeroponics
Faster growth than soil
Less water usage than
hydroponics
Less weight payload than
hydroponics or soil-based
growing methods
Hydroponics
Uses a larger amount of
water
Smaller selection of plants
Energy expenditure and
system maintenance of
pumps

30. EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Structure, Skin, and Deployment

33. FORMAL DEVELOPMENT

34. 02 03
STRUCTURE LIFECYCLE + DEPLOYMENT
01

35. EXTERIOR SKINNING SYSTEM

36. MATERIAL FUNCTION KEY PROPERTIES PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
BETAGLASS FABRIC
GFRP / PTFE
Atomic Oxygen protective layer Protection from outer elements/ high durability/ fire
resistant
Thicker outer-layer of Betacloth
BETACLOTH
Silica Glass / Silicon
(Actually Silica fiber)
Multi-layer Insulation Layer (MLI) Protect against outer elements/ insulative properties/
fire resistant
(NASA REALLY hates fire)
Multi-layer fabric (astronaut space suits)
MYLAR
PET/PET
Actually (BoPET) / (stretched PET)
Multi-layer Insulation Layer (MLI) Radiation shielding/ thermal properties Shiny
DRACON
PET
Multi-layer Insulation Layer
(MLI)
Thermal blanket White Thermal Fabric
POLYURETHANE FOAM
Polyurethane
Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD)
protection layer (in between nexetel layers)
Low density/ high absorption. Allows for easy folding
of outer shell.
Foam
NEXTEL
Alumina
MMOD protection layer High strength fabric, fire resistant Ceramic fabric
KEVLAR
Polyamide
Resistant layer/ inner layer Puncture resistant, helps keep physical structure of
inflatable
Woven fabric
COMBITHERM
Nylon/EVOH/Nylon/High Ethylene Vinyl
Acetate Polyethylene/LLDPE
(Complex Polymer film)
Bladder (redundant layering) Decreases habitat Permeability (0.1 cc/100 in2-24
hour-atm)
Clear plastic material [Combination of
polyethylene, nylon, and EVOH (vinyl alcohol)
layers]
NOMEX Inner layer Puncture resistant/ fire resistant Woven fabric (fire fighter suits)

37. SOLAR COLLECTION ARRAY

38. PARABOLIC REFLECTOR
Optical Cable

39. INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Plants, Support, and Systems

41. Overall Structure
Light Diffusion Layer
Plant Layer
Misters + Roots
Schroom Layer
Algae + Water Coil
Water Pump

43. INTERIOR LAYER PLANS
Plant Layer Mushroom LayerOverhead Light Diffusing Layer Algae Layer

45. BIOME HABITATION SYSTEMS
Mechanical and Technical Systems

46. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Power, Water, Heat, Air, Light

47. WATER

48. POWER
Via Wikipedia

49. HEAT
Systems diagram

50. PRESSURE/INFLATION

51. LIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL
Calculations Natural v
Artificial?
We use growth LEDs
that output light in the
red and blue spectrum
which the plant is able
to use most efficiently

52. High Level Plant Layer
LED array and fiber optics above
Decomposer Layer
Four LED strips in a cross pattern as
the Oyster mushrooms require little
light
Algae Layer
LED strips along outside of clear
tubes containing algae in the algae
compartment
LIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL

53. TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
Monitoring, Automation, Adaptation

54. PLANT PODS
Sensor List
• pH Level
• Soil Moisture
• Lux (light)
• Each pod in the plant layer will be
equipped with its own set of sensors
• Each section in the decomposer layer
will be equipped with a set of sensors
• These sensor will be used to monitor
the growth and health of each plant

55. PLANT MONITORING
Cameras
• Mounted on Gantries
• Controllable Autonomously
• Moves in 4 axes
• Attached to Central Column

56. BIOME MONITORING
Sensor List
● Camera
● Temperature
● Humidity
● Ambient Light
● Air pressure
● CO2
● O2
• Each layer of the biome will be equipped
with ambient sensors
• These sensors will be used to monitor the
health of the habitat and the ecosystem
• The habitat will make decisions based on
the values of these sensors
• Triple redundant sensors will be placed
(Adaptation systems will use the median
value to make decisions)

57. CONTROL AND
COMMUNICATIONS
Data Transmission, Use, and Interface

58. DATA AND TRANSMISSION
How do we get and store the data?
● Sensor data can be
gathered at any interval
- currently 5 minutes
● Queued on-site and
transmitted whenever
possible
● Aggregated and
presented in friendly
interface for perusal by
public

59. COMMUNICATIONS
Redundancy

60. DATA USES AND INTERFACES
Big Martian Data

61. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Data Transmission, Use, and Interface

62. PRINCIPLES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
From Earth to Mars and Back Again
Earth Mars
Astronauts
● Bring the experience of the Martian
biome to a global audience.
● Use digital media as a medium to
explore an otherwise isolated space.
● Educate viewers and explore data
through analogous systems.

63. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
Systems for Interplanetary Connection
VR Experience for
General Public
VR Tool for Astronauts
and Researchers
Monumental Installation
for Education

64. VIRTUAL REALITY SIMULATION
Digital Recreation of Martian Growth

66. VIRTUAL REALITY RESEARCH TOOLS
Data Exploration and Psychological Engagement

67. MONUMENTAL INSTALLATION
Education Through a Built Environment

68. FUTURE USE
Extending the Life of the Biome

69. Biomes create an artificial “forest” on the planet in anticipation of a human habitation.

70. The biome then becomes integrated with human habitats allowing humans to tend to them.

71. THANK YOU
Generously supported by:
NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium
The Frank-Ratchye Fund for Art @ the Frontier
Carnegie Mellon's ProSEED/Crosswalk Initiative