This document discusses the potential for human utilization of subsurface environments on other planets, such as caves on Mars. It describes how caves could provide shelter, resources, and unique habitats. Experiments were conducted sending mice into artificial caves to test life support systems. Future work proposed developing inflatable cave liners and pressurized suits to allow humans to safely explore and conduct science in extraterrestrial caves. This could help inform future human missions and the search for life on other worlds.

1. Human Utilization of Subsurface Extraterrestrial EnvironmentsExtraterrestrial EnvironmentsP.J. BostonP.BostonR.D. FrederickR.FrederickJ. J. WerkerWerkerS.M. WelchS.WelchS.L. ThompsonS.ThompsonB. B. SprungmanSprungmanV. HV. H--WerkerWerkerComplex Systems Research, Inc.Complex Boulder, COBoulder, COhttp://http://www.HighMars.org/niacwww.niac// A NIAC Phase II StudyA Study R.D. Frederick © 2002R.2002

2. R.D. Frederick © 2001Why Caves?Why ••ScienceScience••ShelterShelter••StuffStuff

3. Are There CavesAre CavesOn On Other Planets?

4. Collapse Pits Along Tube Path

5. Mare ImbriumMoon LavatubesRimaPosidonius

6. LavatubesLavatubeson Marson MarsImages Images ––NASA, MalinMalinSpace SciencesSpace Sciences

7. CerauniusPatera

9. LavatubeLavatubeCaveCaveEnvironmentsEnvironmentsSecondary mineral formations Secondary (speleothems)(speleothems) ActinomycetesActinomycetescommoncommonPermanent or transient icesPermanent ices

10. CAVE TYPE
Dominant Processes
Parent Materials
Earth Examples
Possible Extraterrestrial Variations
Solutional
Dissolving rock by solvent
Soluble solids plus a solvent
Classic karst, gypsum, halite
Non-water solvents, different thermal regimes
Erosional
Mechanical abrasion via wind, water, grinding, etc.
Any solid
Sea coast caves, Aeolian undercuts, etc.
Non-Earth erosionalprocesses, e.g. radiation sputtering, frozen volatiles
Tectonic
Fracturing due to internally or externally caused earth movements
Any rocky solid
Gravity sliding caves
Tidal flexure from a massive primary, crater impact fracturing
Suffosional
Cavity construction by the fluid-borne motion of small particles
Unconsolidated sediments
Mud caves
Ground ice sublimation???
Phase Transition
Cavity construction by melting, vaporization, or sublimation
Meltableor sublimablematerials capable of solidifying at planet- normal temperatures
Lava tube caves, glacial caves
Perihelionicsublimation of frozen volatiles in comets, frozen bubbles in non-water ices, non-basalt lavatubes
Constructional
Negative space left by incremental biological or accretionalprocesses
Any solid capable of ordered or non- ordered accretion, or biogenic processing
Coralline algae towers
Crystallization in non-polar ices???
P.J. Boston 2003. Extraterrestrial Caves. In, Encycl.opediaof Caves and Karst, J. Gunn, ed.

11. Lessons from the Caves of EarthLessons EarthCaves are not rare!Caves Occur in every major rock typeOccur typeClimate recordersClimate recordersUnique mineralsUnique mineralsUnique biological habitatsUnique habitatsUnique preservation environmentsUnique environments

12. ••Caves provide a window into the subsurfaceCaves subsurface••Caves can be radically different from surfaceCaves surface••Cave habitats ≠≠nonnon--cave subsurface habitatscave habitatsCave EnvironmentsCave Environments

13. Unique Mineral FormationsUnique Formations

14. Unique
Microbes

15. Photo by Larry McLaughlinPhoto McLaughlinPreservation EnvironmentPhysical fossilsPhysical fossilsIsotopic signalsIsotopic signalsClimate recordClimate recordGeochemical tracesGeochemical tracesIn situ In lithificationlithification

16. Trapped Particles & Volatiles?

17. R.D. Frederick © 2001R.2001Life in Mars Caves?Life ••Traces of Ancient Life?••Presence of modern life?

18. Extraterrestrial Caves as Human HabitatExtraterrestrial Habitatas Habitat

19. Extreme UVExtreme UVIonizing radiationIonizing radiationGalacticGalacticSolar flaresSolar flaresShelter on the Martian SurfaceShelter Surface……construction is expensive!…digging machines are expensive!…expensive! DangerDangerWork loadWork loadTime factorsTime factorsPressure vesselPressure vesselSelfSelf--containedcontained

20. Radiation protectionRadiation protectionPressure vesselPressure vessel

21. VolatilesVolatilesIcesIcesMineralsMineralsAccess to deeper depositsAccess depositsStorage and processing facilitiesStorage facilitiesCave Resources

22. NIAC Phase I:
Identification of Enabling Technologies
••Inflatable cave linersInflatable liners••Foamed in place airlocksFoamed airlocks••Inert gas pressurization ••MarsMars--derived breathing mixderived mix••SelfSelf--deploying microrobotsmicrorobots––Communication systemCommunication system––Automated mappingAutomated mapping––Biologically sensitive sitesBiologically sites•Cave science “backpack”••NonNon--invasive techniquesinvasive techniques••Planetary protection protocol developmentprotocol development••BioregenerativeBioregenerativesystemssystems(unique cave aspects)(aspects) ••Bioluminescence/O2 lightlight--piping systempiping system

23. NIAC Phase II:
Missions to Inner Space
Mouse Mission
Development –– 2002
Implementation –– 2003
Human Mission
Development –– 2003
Implementation –– 2003/04

24. Mouse Missionto Inner SpaceMouse MissionMouse Spaceto SpaceCEMSSCEMSSPrePre--human trialhuman trialEducationEducationMark I PrototypeMark PrototypeTrakballTrakballMousetronautsMousetronautsJoystikJoystik

26. CEMSS O2 LevelsPercent - September 27-29, 200216.7016.9017.1017.3017.5017.7017.9018.1018.30 19:3020:3021:3022:3023:300:301:302:303:304:305:306:307:308:309:3010:3011:3012:3013:3014:3015:3016:3017:3018:3019:3020:3021:3022:3023:300:301:302:303:304:305:306:307:308:309:3010:30 CEMSS Relative HumidityPercent - September 28-29, 20027072747678808284868890 18:4519:4520:4521:4522:4523:450:451:452:453:454:455:456:457:458:459:45 CEMSS TemperatureDegrees C - September 28-29, 20027.008.009.0010.0011.0012.0013.0014.0015.0016.0017.0018.0019.0020.0021.0022.0023.0024.00 0:001:002:003:004:005:006:007:008:009:0010:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:0021:0022:0023:000:001:002:003:004:005:006:007:008:009:0010:00 Mouse HabPlant ChamberElectric ZoneBottom RightCave TempCEMSS CO2 Levelsppm - September 27-29, 20022004006008001,0001,2001,4001,6001,8002,000 19:3020:3021:3022:3023:300:301:302:303:304:305:306:307:308:309:3010:3011:3012:3013:3014:3015:3016:3017:3018:3019:3020:3021:3022:3023:300:301:302:303:304:305:306:307:308:309:3010:30

27. Argon-Breathing ExperimentsArgon-Experiments

28. Lemnaminor(duckweed)Azolla(waterfern)Flat Crops

29. Waterfern
Duckweed
•Rapid-growth, (mass doubles in 16-24 hrs.) •Reproduce by budding or seeds/spores
•Wide pH Range, (5.5 –7)
•Produces more protein per square meter than soybeans, (dried)
•Can purify & concentrate nutrients from wastewater
•Tolerates High UV levels•Symbiotically fixes
nitrogen from air

30. Integrated MissionIntegrated MissionArgon breathing mixDuckweed dietValley of Fires lavatube16 December1 week 10 mice

31. Human Missionto Inner SpaceHuman MissionHuman Spaceto SpaceLiner & airlockLiner airlock11--2 week duration2 duration7% CO7% CO22, 9, 9--17% O17% O22(HM Cave, AZ)(AZ) In situIn situscience tasksscience tasks

35. Airlocks

36. Pressurized Shirt-sleeve Environment

37. SelfSelf--deploying Com Networkdeploying Network802.11 based prototype802.11 prototypeLarge, pristine cave Large, testbedtestbed ((CuevaCuevade Las de BarrancasBarrancas, NM), NM) Human cavers as “microrobotsmicrorobots””

40. 3-Scanner33--D LIDAR ScannerD ScannerCyrax2500 3D Laser Scanning System -CyraCorp. Courtesy Pacific Survey Supply, Medford, ORCyraxCyrax2500 2500 --CyraCyraCorp.Corp. ORCourtesy ORFastFastAutonomousAutonomousCADCAD--compatablecompatable3D point cloud3D cloudGeneral mapping & reconnaissanceGeneral reconnaissanceCustom fit inflatable cave linersCustom liners

41. R.D. Frederick © 2001Earth Cave Analogs Earth For Extraterrestrial CavesFor CavesAstronaut Training Astronaut Planetary ProtectionPlanetary Protection

42. Logistics

43. LogisticsProtectionProtectionMobilityMobilityInstrumentationInstrumentationEmergency responseEmergency responseAbrading environmentAbrading environment

44. Planetary
ProtectionPotential biological sitesAseptic reconnaissanceLong-term monitoringNon-invasive techniquesChain of asepsis

45. Next? NASA ASTEP new start 1/04ISU CaveClass Project

46. Humans in Caves:The PresentThe PresentHumans in Caves:Humans The NIAC Future?