Friday, March 17, 2023 11:00AM

Brown Bag Seminar

Friday, March 17, 2023

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

 Weber, Classroom II

 

Presenters:

Colin Burnett

Tabitha D'Amato

Rishikesh Prabhuram  

Colin Burnett

 Title: 

Preparation Methods for In Situ Salt- and Regolith-Derived Martain Concrete

Abstract:

Crewed missions to Mars are anticipated within the next decade(s), necessitating the development of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Two major limitations (and opportunities for innovation) are 1) extraction of water-ice from the Martian subsurface and 2) development of building materials for Mars habitats. Carrying concrete and water on a spacecraft would be highly impractical given the high masses and volumes of such materials. Yet, both are necessary for short- and long-term human activities on Mars. ISRU extraction of water and the development of building materials on Mars, therefore, are compelling and vital problems to investigate. Here we present preliminary results addressing these two problems in tandem: exploring use of salt, an assumed byproduct from ice extraction, and regolith to make Mars concrete. Stable ice is present in the Martian regolith, primarily at high latitudes, where it is seasonally colder and more difficult for ice to sublimate. The ice table may be present at depths from <0.5 meters to 1.5 meters based on crater excavation values [1]. Sub-surface ice is most accessible in the northern high latitudes, present at a range of depths, but in some areas present only 0.1 below the surface [2]. Fortunately, substantial ice deposits also exist in mid-latitudes [1], which are more accessible and temperate environments. Such ice would contain some abundance of trapped ions and salts, given seasonal changes dissolving ice and concentrating small brine pockets, periodically freezing out salts or trapping ions [3]. Not only would these ice deposits likely contain high levels of impurities, but they also have some of the highest potential for modern biological activity on Mars, given the possibility of exploitable chemical gradients and liquid water (e.g., [4]).

Advisor: Professor Christopher Carr

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Tabitha D'Amato

Title: Strategic Locations and Resource Management in Cislunar Space

Abstract:

With the progression of the Artemis missions, NASA hopes to establish a human habitat on the Moon by the end of the decade. In order to begin planning this, strategic locations and available resources must be understood in order to create the best mission while limiting cost and weight. This presentation will go into detail describing these locations and readily available lunar resources and potential ways to manage them, hitting key concepts like the lunar South Pole and solar power.

Advisor:

Professor Michael Balchanos and Professor Dimitri Mavris

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Rishi Prabhuram

Title:

Single Surface Canopy Design 

Abstract:

This presentation will focus on work done on parafoils having a single canopy and the ability to control turn rate and glide slope. This has applications in areas such as Amazon drone delivery. 

Advisor: 

Professor Kyriakos Vamvoudakis