The Long Range Mars Rover
Paul Swift
pswift@home.com
Although the first few manned landings on the red planet will be very much a consolidate-and dig-in type of operation, subsequent Martian expeditions will be much more explorative. Building on an infrastructure established by the first comers, the scientists who venture far afield will need substantial physical resources to proceed effectively.
To roam the Martian hinterlands for more than a dayÕs outing will naturally require much physical support. A geologist will need to rest, to sleep, to eat, and to live in a home away from home. Today we can see the semi-retired and semi-wealthy roaming the hinterlands of the western hemisphere, in some derivation or extension of the motor home.
The Martian motor home is what our people doing the exploring require. Various design needs and constraints are tabled in this talk. Some design avenues are recommended, but above all, this unit is quite big. Form follows function, and in this case, the function is substantial.