Mars Habitat Project 2000
North Arlington Middle School, Grade 7
North Arlington, New Jersey
How We Would Colonize Mars
In order to establish our colony on Mars, we would send ahead a lander that would use the carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere to begin making fuel and water for us. We would then send building materials to the surface of Mars. Finally, we would travel to the planet in 20 groups of 6 over a 5-year period.
After carefully considering what it would be like to try to fly to Mars with a cow, pig, or sheep, we decided to become vegetarians. In addition to our vegetables, grains, and fruits, we would take food fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. The waste from these aquatic species could be used to fertilize hydroponically grown plants both in flight and on the planet.
All waste will need to be reused or recycled. We investigated composting toilets and also studied NASA experimental technology that uses microorganisms to clean waste water. We think that all water will need to be conserved and recycled.
We would definitely miss television the most. We can take music and literature on computer CDs. We will be Earthlings, but our children will be Martians. They will not know about rain, snow, rainbows, clouds, oceans, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other events on Earth. Therefore, we will create a mythology about the Earth for our children. Although we will have science CDs with all the technical information about Earth, the myths will help connect our children to their Earth past.
How We Built Our Model Colony
Our classes were divided into five groups of 5-6 students each. Each of the 20 groups received two sheets of 11 x 17 inch manilla oaktag, 1 sheet of 11 x 17 inch white oaktag, 2 sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch white paper, and 1 each 4 x 11 inch sheet of green, blue, and brown construction paper. Each group also received aluminum foil and plastic wrap. We had four class periods (42 minutes each) to build our habitats. They are held together with glue and tape. The green construction paper was used for plants, the blue for water, and the brown for soil. We had to show how all our needs for food, water, shelter, fuel, space, and waste recycling would be met.
More About Our Project Research
This is our fourth year colonizing Mars. We're glad to have the rest of the country join us this year. The Mars habitat project is the final exam for a year-long study of Earth and its solar system. To learn more about Mars, use the link below to enter Ms. Chen's science class homepage. Resources used in this unit of study included: "Windows on Mars," video from NASA; Scientific American Frontiers "From Mir to Mars"; NASA websites; National Geographic Society website; and Holt's "Science Plus: Technology and Science" Red Level.
