Purpose of the project is in research of the possibility to build permanent settlements on Mars, using robotics and local materials, thus reduce the price and risks. At the moment there are several crucial restrictions, first of all unreliability, high cost and size limitation of cargoes that can be delivered there. Further, building works that can be performed on the Mars are highly restricted due to severe conditions. Idea of this project is to split construction works on two general steps: First - creation of overall big shell that will be equipped with residential, technical and other units, which is the second.
First part is to be done by the robots using only local materials. Martian surface is primarily composed of the basalt - igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava. During the cooling it forms topology of the tightly packed hexagonal in section columns. Idea to use the digging robots that can hew cave system, using benefits of this topology is inspired by the Fingal's Cave. This solution allows to avoid supply from the Earth, only robots are needed.
After cave is done, astronaut mission is sent to the Mars. Using ready-assembled compact facilities they must arrange water and oxygen supply from the soil glacier and mount basalt processing plant. Robot supply plant with the crushed rock, output - basalt wool, with which the same robots insulate the walls of the cave, and basalt roving, from which another weaving robots can make the spatial spider-like web that will be used as spaces and constructions to hold the domestic and technical facilities. According to NASA, some martian soil appropriate for growing certain agricultures. When construction is finished and contour of the cave is enclosed it is possible to arrange agricultural processes and supply base with food.
Colonisation stages 1. Rocket with digging robots and solar power supply units are sent to the Mars 2. Robots drop-off on the surface 3. Robots analyze basalt columns on strength value, then each chooses a weakest pillar that equidistant from the others - it is a start position 4. Robots drill basalt, moving down and increasing diameter of withdrawn rock with each step, until it reaches strong pillars that remain as columns 5. Crushed rock set aside to form network of the rampants, in order to protect skylight holes from the wind and dust 6. After caves are ready human expidition rush to the Mars 7. Astronauts finish the construction and arrange technical facilities as water, oxygen, basalt processing line, etc. 8. Using generated basalt roving, robots weave spatial spider-like web, that will be used as spaces and construction to hold domestic and technical facilities
