ur astronauts will be settling on Mars indefinitely.

It's not feasible to send water, oxygen and

food from Earth to the astronauts: they will produce those on Mars.

Water

On Mars, water can be extracted from the soil. The rover will select the location for the
settlement primarily based on the water content in the soil. We expect this to be at a latitude of
between 40 and 45 degrees North latitude. Water extraction will be performed by the life
support units. The rover will deposit soil into a water extractor in the life support units. The
water extractor will heat the soil until the water evaporates. The evaporated water will be
condensed and stored, the dry soil expelled, and the process repeated to extract more water.

About 1500 liters of reserve water will be stored in each life support unit, which will be
consumed primarily at night, and during periods of protracted low power availability, for
example during dust storms.

Since Mars has gravity, water can be used in the same way as on Earth. Each astronaut will be
able to use about 50 liters of water per day. The water will be recycled, which takes much less
energy than extracting it from the Martian soil. Only water that can not be recycled will be
replaced by water extracted from the soil.

Oxygen

Oxygen can be produced by splitting water into its constituent parts, hydrogen and oxygen. The
oxygen will be used to provide a breathable atmosphere in the living units, and a portion will be
stored in reserve for conditions when there is less power available, for example at night, and
during dust storms.

The second major component of the living units' atmosphere, nitrogen, will be extracted directly
from the Martian atmosphere by the life support unit.

Food production on Mars

When the astronauts land on Mars, there will be storable food from Earth waiting for them to
use. The storable food from Earth will only serve as emergency rations, which means the
astronauts will try to eat as much fresh food that they produce on Mars as possible. It is likely
that algae and insects will also be part of the diet on Mars.
Food production will occur indoor under artificial lighting. In total, there will be approximately
80 m2 available for plant growth in the original habitat. The first crew will also be able to use the
habitat of the second crew to grow food because the hardware for the second crew lands only a
few weeks after the first crew lands.

A thick layer of Martian soil on top of the inflatable habitat will protect the plants (and the
astronauts) from radiation. CO2 for the plants is available from the Mars atmosphere and water
is available through recycling and the soil on Mars. Nutrients for the plants could come from
recycling human waste or could be imported from Earth.

Any plant production surplus will be stored as emergency rations for the second crew and for
emergencies. Non-edible parts of the plants will be recycled or stored until more advanced
recycling equipment is shipped from Earth.

Mars One will investigate the volume requirements for food production in the simulation
outpost and the crews will be trained for many years to operate the greenhouse equipment. The
aim is for colony to be independent from the food they receive from Earth. There will always be
enough emergency rations in storage, locally produced or from Earth, to survive until the next
supply mission comes.

How to keep humans alive on Mars - Independent Surface Habitat ECLSS Conceptual Design
Assessment by Paragon

Mars One released a conceptual design report of the Surface Habitat Environmental Control and
Life Support Systems (ECLSS) performed by Paragon Space Development Corporation. The ECLSS
will create a safe environment for the Mars inhabitants, supplying them with clean air and water
while recycling wastes. A concise abstract of the independent Parago