Posted: 8/15/2019 1:02:20 PM EDT
[Last Edit: guns762][Edited]
It’s that time again!  My first day back is Monday, and the students join us the following Monday. The project this year is Mission to Mars- Cultivating Our Future from Wyoming to MarsFor the last seven years, ARFCOM has been an essential part of the adventure my students experience with the building of permanent large installation projects here at our high school. I know that this year will be no different, and our success will be attributable to the incredible help that so many of you provide.  My Art classes will again work with CAD students, Welding students, Woodworking students, and Robotic students to try to create our next display. I’m hoping with our subject this year, we can get some agronomy students also involved. For those new to our adventures, roughly 60-80 students from grades 9-12 will work the entire school year to build from scratch a permanent 3D display in an area roughly 13.5’x18.5’. Some students might only spend an hour working on this, some three weeks, and some might spend several hours every day the entire year. This will roughly (some will remember last year’s prediction of $1200  , and how off I was by the end, $2700) cost around $2000. Yeah, let’s try to stay there this year. The generosity in both funds, equipment, and advice last year made all the difference in being able to spend that much money on such a project. We will again have to have a t-shirt sale to celebrate the adventure and raise the funds needed. Our new build area is the breakout room next to the Agriculture and Robotics rooms. They came to me last spring, knowing we had few areas left to work in, and asked if we would do something in their area, oriented towards their disciplines. I will admit, that building a tractor was not at the top of my list of “fun” ideas  , but many students were excited about this idea, and once ARFCOM started throwing out ideas(Rover wheels on the tractor-Thanks @Frank_B ), my fun meter spiked substantially. I’m hoping students will be inspired with the idea of linking cultivating fields in WY, to the eventual cultivating fields on Mars. So here is what I’m envisioning right now: Our new home for this year. The trophies and banners will all come down.- 13.5ft x 18.5 ft. Same size as the locomotive area    -Martian and Wyoming landscapes blended across the room-Heart Mountain, fields, desert, to Martian landscape, envirodomes Our school is on the left in front of the water tower.       -Probably a 1/3rd scale???? John Deere EV tractor altered adding moving “Rover” wheels. We need some diagrams for the tractor.   -3D environment with rocks, fields, envirodomes, possible live agronomy display     -Drones scanning fields-one of the Robotics old platforms will/could be used also.   -Rover movement-move across the wall?    -14 foot tall? SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket/launch surrounding the support beam (bottom portion lit up with clear lights simulating launch?).   As with past years, I’m sure this will be altered a bit as the adventure proceeds, and ARFCOM adds to ideas. Our team of students has changed of course, and we will be missing our lead Robotics student who went so far above and beyond what was expected last year. Hopefully we find someone to fill his shoes. I should have back several of my lead builders again. I ran the idea by them a week ago, and they were excited to get started.  Please share any ideas you might come up with! Even if we don’t use it, the ideas can spur discussion, and lead to new thoughts. The brainstorming ARFCOM provides is always one of the most interesting and important aspects of this process. Here is last year’s thread: https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/1-3rd-Scale-17ft-Marine-One-Helicopter-Project-ThreadUpdate-6-17pg54-magazine-article-/5-2133113/  Previous adventure.... https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/ALL-ABOARD-1-3rd-scale-Baldwin-4-4-0-Locomotive-Update-5-24pg29-The-End-is-here-Video-/5-2025503/    |
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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I might have passed school if you were my teacher.
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Benjamin Franklin, "You have a Republic if you can keep it."
There will be something good in it. - usjet
There will be something good in it. - usjet
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The greenhouse buildings are wrong.
Mars atmosphere is 1% of Earth. Living spaces (even ones humans only visit rarely) must hold in the air, and that means holding in 99% of that pressure. Also, greenhouses would let in nearly all the radiation hitting the surface. The plants may survive it, but people will not want to accumulate radiation damage while "farming". And the Sun provides only about 60% of the sunlight that Earth gets. Again, the plants may survive, but they (and us) will be safer and healthier indoors. Tunnel farming for the win! |
"....now I'm learning to be a part of societ............societ...........sss."
real Sunset on Mars.
During sunset the path of the sun light passes through more of the thin atmosphere and resulting in blue sky for the same reason our sky is blue here on Earth. |
"Never attribute to malice that which can be ascribed to sheer stupidity." LTC (CENTCOM)
"Round is a shape, right?
I have the body of a god...Just happens to be Buddah! Az_Redneck
"Round is a shape, right?
I have the body of a god...Just happens to be Buddah! Az_Redneck
Here's what I'm thinking on the SpaceX Heavy. The structural pillar would be surrounded by PVC pipe to form the rocket body. The PVC would be durable and resist damage from people bumping into it. I was also thinking putting a clear tube at the bottom and filling it with roundish balls, filled with lights to simulate a launch? Not sure that's possible, but we can look into it. 
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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By webtaz99:
The greenhouse buildings are wrong. Mars atmosphere is 1% of Earth. Living spaces (even ones humans only visit rarely) must hold in the air, and that means holding in 99% of that pressure. Also, greenhouses would let in nearly all the radiation hitting the surface. The plants may survive it, but people will not want to accumulate radiation damage while "farming". And the Sun provides only about 60% of the sunlight that Earth gets. Again, the plants may survive, but they (and us) will be safer and healthier indoors. Tunnel farming for the win! |
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
You could use cotton, LED lights, fiber optics to look like ignition.
How to make fire simulation |
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Always blame autocorrect.
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Originally Posted By j_hooker:
You could use cotton, LED lights, fiber optics to look like ignition. https://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/exploding-model-star-wars-ships-using-cotton-balls-and-leds-10.jpg?w=800&h=800 How to make fire simulation |
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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Proud Member of Team Ranstad
"Hillary's corruption is corrosive to the soul of our nation." Donald J. Trump, 10/29/2016
"Hillary's corruption is corrosive to the soul of our nation." Donald J. Trump, 10/29/2016
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Originally Posted By Master_of_Orion:
real Sunset on Mars. https://i.imgur.com/b3DmUUZ.jpg During sunset the path of the sun light passes through more of the thin atmosphere and resulting in blue sky for the same reason our sky is blue here on Earth. |
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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Radiation protection. The main concern is Ionizing radiation. Materials high in Hydrogen are good at blocking such radiation. That's things like Water and polyethylene plastic. Rock also works but you need about 10-11 yards thick and water only needs about 1 yard of thickness. I don't know about the thickness of the plastic needed. I think plants could be grown on the surface with a "green house" designed with "Medium" radiation protection in mind... and maybe a little supplemental lighting. Something like these tanks Cody is messing around with.  Plants in a Tank Part 1  Plants In a Tank Part 2  Chicken Hole Base Ep. 2: Getting Tanks As for human habitation... those would likely be buried by rock or be surrounded by or even embedded within water storage tanks. |
"Never attribute to malice that which can be ascribed to sheer stupidity." LTC (CENTCOM)
"Round is a shape, right?
I have the body of a god...Just happens to be Buddah! Az_Redneck
"Round is a shape, right?
I have the body of a god...Just happens to be Buddah! Az_Redneck
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Originally Posted By webtaz99:
The greenhouse buildings are wrong. Mars atmosphere is 1% of Earth. Living spaces (even ones humans only visit rarely) must hold in the air, and that means holding in 99% of that pressure. Also, greenhouses would let in nearly all the radiation hitting the surface. The plants may survive it, but people will not want to accumulate radiation damage while "farming". And the Sun provides only about 60% of the sunlight that Earth gets. Again, the plants may survive, but they (and us) will be safer and healthier indoors. Tunnel farming for the win! 
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Originally Posted By j_hooker:
Sorry in advance but, I just have to do it. https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/021/665/DpQ9YJl.jpg Originally Posted By j_hooker:
Originally Posted By webtaz99:
The greenhouse buildings are wrong. Mars atmosphere is 1% of Earth. Living spaces (even ones humans only visit rarely) must hold in the air, and that means holding in 99% of that pressure. Also, greenhouses would let in nearly all the radiation hitting the surface. The plants may survive it, but people will not want to accumulate radiation damage while "farming". And the Sun provides only about 60% of the sunlight that Earth gets. Again, the plants may survive, but they (and us) will be safer and healthier indoors. Tunnel farming for the win! https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/021/665/DpQ9YJl.jpg 
What's best about Arfcom, is that we will get excellent data to work with and make our display as realistic as possible. I'd much rather be able to explain to students why the greenhouses won't be clear, than have the display not be realistic. |
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By Master_of_Orion:
Radiation protection. The main concern is Ionizing radiation. Materials high in Hydrogen are good at blocking such radiation. That's things like Water and polyethylene plastic. Rock also works but you need about 10-11 yards thick and water only needs about 1 yard of thickness. I don't know about the thickness of the plastic needed. I think plants could be grown on the surface with a "green house" designed with "Medium" radiation protection in mind... and maybe a little supplemental lighting. Something like these tanks Cody is messing around with.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAyxaBJoxRA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZtzzesXPg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI3gGEDi3jo
As for human habitation... those would likely be buried by rock or be surrounded by or even embedded within water storage tanks. 
Plastic tubes for "greenhouses". 
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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
U.S. Army Warrant Officer, 920B & 915E, CW5
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Originally Posted By M4ger:
OST. I think it would be cool if @ORARGB, @SCW, and @Mech2007 posted here with some ideas perhaps? I MAY even have some spare parts from the Curiosity Rover laying around home. Not sure. I gave a lot of them away as paperweights. |
I wasn't expecting you so soon. Usually I have to say "drunken half-wit" three times before you show up.
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Originally Posted By M4ger:
OST. I think it would be cool if @ORARGB, @SCW, and @Mech2007 posted here with some ideas perhaps? |
The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment-
"With all due respect, I'm at least twice as smart as you...." burkeva
"With all due respect, I'm at least twice as smart as you...." burkeva
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Originally Posted By Mech2007: I'll read it over when I get home from work. I MAY even have some spare parts from the Curiosity Rover laying around home. Not sure. I gave a lot of them away as paperweights. 
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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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Working in the designs should be fun. Lots of ways we can go with it.
Hopefully you will have enough room in your drawer for one more.
I noticed mine was getting kind of full.
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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By slick556:
OP, any plans to include the Opportunity Rover? |
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."--H.L. Mencken
