Production
Production spaces for a Mars settlement may occupy a large part of the available space in a colony. Production facilities including Agricultural, Manufacturing, Mineral extraction, Craft production and even, eventually, Entertainment production will be the main users of energy on Mars. Propellant production and agricultural production in particular.
Contents
Agricultural production
Until terraforming or genetic manipulation provides the possibility of plant production outside of an artificial environment, agriculture will require greenhouses, either naturally or artificially illuminated. Agricultural production will also include hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics and possibly animal husbandry.
Entertainment production
Mars will need a radio and a TV station. Locally produced shows will be in demand as soon as they are possible.
Manufacturing production
Manufacturing on Mars will be similar to manufacturing on Earth. However, there will be no heritage infrastructure
Mineral and water extraction
Atmospheric extraction
As an element of propellant production and as a source for most of the carbon and atmosphere for the colony, atmospheric production is an important part of a settlement production facilities.
Propellant production
In the early days of the martian settlement propellant production will be one of the main thrusts of development. IN-situ resource utilisation is an obligation if the transportation costs are to be at a level that can make the settlement possible. Eventually, as the ratio of settlers to immigrants goes up, the amount of locally produced goods goes up and the required importations go down, propellant production will become less central to the settlement economy.
Electrolysis of water is the basis of all the propellant production schemes.
