Equipment for autonomous growth
What equipment will colonists need to be really independent from earth on the long term? This article wants to define the Equipment for Autonomous Growth to enable a colony to thrive.
Contents
Mining equipment
The most critical technology is mining. It provides almost every material the growing colony needs: water, iron, silicon, etc.
Energy
- Solar panels provide electricity out of sunlight.
- Thermocouples provide electricity out of temperature differences (inspired by Isaac Asimov's trilogy "Foundation": Trantor is harvesting electricity like this.)
- Depth drilling can be used to heat buildings.
- Wind turbines provide electricity out of the atmosphere
Computers
This item might be disputed, but computers are surely a great help for any other technology.
Internet
The access to Earth's internet is definity not necessary for an autonomous colony, but it helps to exchange technological, scientific and cultural news, which might be beneficial for both Mars and Earth.
Biotechnology
Since sunlight is not as bright as on Earth the construction of biotechnological plants can help to provide enough food for the settlers.
Synthetic materials
Almost any technology requires a whole lot of synthetic materials: plastics, oil, acids, etc., that is produced by chemical processes.
Reproductive Technology
Every machine and every gadget has a limited livetime. It must be replaced periodically to keep the function alive.
Digging machines produce ore. The furnace transforms ore to iron. A steel plant make steel out of the iron. And the steel must be forged to parts of a digging machine. The circle is closed.
Solar panels provide electricity, which will be used to create more silicon for photo-voltaic cells.
The most complex thing to replace is, perhaps, the computer. It needs high-tech processes.
