Temperature Control Team
Martian Environment and Challenges
The environment of Mars is not suitable for humans without some form of protection. The
temperature varies a great deal and you must take this into account when developing the
community. Marsville must provide an environment that will be safe and sustain life, which
requires water and a suitable atmosphere. These must be generated, replenished and free of
pollutants. Temperature must be controlled. Air pressure must be maintained at appropriate
levels for human habitation inside the colony and also when venturing outside. Suitable clothing
will be required for those living in Marsville.
Activity
Your team is responsible for designing and building a working prototype (model) of a
temperature control system for the Marsville colony. You must consider the extremes in
temperature when designing a control system. You must have a backup device since many
scientific experiments could be damaged if there is a drastic change in temperature.
Use the Team Blog to contact other system teams to see what needs they have for controlling
temperature. You will be working closely with the air supply teams and the energy teams to
ensure that adequate energy is available for your system.
Getting Started
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Define the requirements of your system.
Examine how these are currently met on Earth.
Explore the limitations/opportunities of the Martian environment.
Gather feedback from other teams and mentors using the Team
Blog.
Design and construct your working prototype using the
requirements listed below.
Evaluate the design. Does it provide the greatest good and the
least harm to the persons and things affected?
View the Temperature Tips to learn more.
System Requirements
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Questions to Ask
System model must be no larger than 1 metre x 1 metre x 1
metre.
It must include a working component such as an electrical switch
to turn a fan on and off or doors that open and close using a
simple hydraulic system.
Prototype must incorporate at least four Mars facts.
Materials used should be as representative as possible of the
materials that would be used for the real design.
System should work under the conditions of the Martian
environment.
System should operate with other life-support systems within the
colony.
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What Earthly environments (both indoor and outdoor) are
uncomfortable - or even dangerous - if we don't control the
temperature our bodies are exposed to?
What different ways do we have of controlling the temperature of
these environments?
How will the microgravity environment be controlled?
How many degrees does the temperature have to change for you
to switch from shorts to jeans, from bare hands to gloves, or to
add a sweater?
What effects do the sun, clouds, wind and activity level have on
temperature?
What is the effect of extreme heat on soil, plants, animals,
buildings, water use and electrical use?
How will you consider the natural elements of Mars when
designing your system?
What materials can you use to make prototypes of your system?
Where could you find additional information on this topic?
Tips for Building Temperature Control
Systems
Here are some ideas to help you learn more about your life-support system. Make sure you
divide up the topics and share your findings on the Team Blog.
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Examine methods used to measure temperature, precipitation
and wind speed and direction on Earth.
Design and construct weather recording instruments suitable for
Earth. How would they need to be modified for use on Mars?
Create a weather station suitable for the Martian environment.
Set-up a schedule for recording daily temperature, precipitation
and wind direction and speed in your site. Record these
conditions at several times during the day and evening. Gather
and record the same information from the other Canadian sites
regularly. Make comparisons between the weather conditions
across Canada.
Use the information you obtained to make predictions about
weather conditions for your site and other sites across Canada.
Check the accuracy of these predictions through the newspaper
or Internet.
Look at heating and cooling systems at home and at school. How
is the temperature regulated in these different environments?
Discuss different methods for heating buildings on Earth.
Compare the types of energy used in different parts of the
country and chart the results. Why are different forms of energy
used in these locations?
Talk to an architect or engineer about alternate forms of energy
used to regulate temperature. Consider how effective they would
be on Mars.
Invent sensing devices to indicate when the inside and outside
temperature of the classroom gets below a certain point.
Construct working models of fans and heaters that are controlled
by switches, motors or the computer when the temperature gets
above or below a certain point.
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Examine clothing worn by astronauts when they conduct an Extra
Vehicular Activity (EVA). Why is this protective clothing required?
Design suitable clothing for the Martian climate to protect
explorers who have to work outside the settlement.
Create a catalogue of the clothing from other sites across the
country and design a Canadian/Mars company to market your
clothing ideas.
Work with the other system teams to discover what additional
temperature control needs they have.