Space has intrigued me (infinitely) since childhood. I developed my interest in astronomy with late-night stargazing hours and made it more intense after watching India’s Mars Orbital Mission lift off in 2013. My curiosity became a passion to not only learn about space, but to make valuable contributions to our knowledge about space. The question that lingered within my mind was: If one day we are going to live on other planets, how will we manage to survive by utilizing only what already exists?
That got me thinking about in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on Mars, especially within its volcanic terrain, which is laden with precious minerals such as nickel, chromium, and titanium. These regions hold vast promise for human colonies to come—but at the same time pose severest engineering and safety issues.
This project really gained momentum when I began to work with Arkajit Aich of the Prayoga Institute of Education Research. Our partnership was founded on a mutual desire to investigate how rovers could be configured, fueled, and sent into these unforgiving and challenging Martian landscapes.
Arkajit’s experience guided my initial concepts into a well-formatted research plan. We sought to fill a lacuna in current literature: although numerous studies talked about resource locations in Mars, few had spoken about the terrain-specific methodologies in volcanic areas—slope safety, rover flexibility, power needs, and infrastructure planning.
We employed a multi-layered methodology:
1.Remote Sensing and Data Processing
We started with high-resolution data from NASA’s Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) and Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM). With this, we were able to map slope gradients, detect hazard areas, and observe surface mineralogy.
2. Slope Stability Analysis
We performed slope maps and computed the Factor of Safety (FoS) for various volcanoes using Python and libraries such as GDAL, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This was used to identify areas where bases and infrastructure could be safely located.
3. Aspect and Contour Mapping
We integrated terrain orientation data with contours of elevation to assess lava flow routes, wind sheltering, and the best placement of solar panels.
4. Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) Analysis
TES measurements allowed us to learn about thermal and mineralogical differences and to identify potential resource areas.
5. Mining and Mobility Solutions
We examined options such as terracing for stability, anchored drilling systems for extraction in safety, and terrain-adaptive rover designs with rocker-bogie suspensions, grousers, and dust-mitigation systems.
6. Infrastructure Trade-Offs
Employing computational modeling, we contrasted the long-term efficiency of roads and rails for rover travel, considering Martian dust deposition, wear rates, and maintenance feasibility.
7.Energy Modeling
We developed comprehensive equations to determine rover energy needs for travel, drilling, and communications—balancing solar power systems and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs).
Also read – Advancing Resource Extraction Methodologies on Mars – Part 6
This project taught me that planetary exploration success is all about integration—combining geology with engineering solutions. My key takeaways are:
This research is one step towards equipping humankind for long-term survival beyond our planet. Our unified framework—ranging from hazard analysis through rover flexibility, power simulation, to infrastructure design—can be used to inform future missions to resource-laden volcanic planets on Mars.
I plan to submit this research to the Astronomy Reports Journal for publication. My hope is not only that it is accepted as a technical contribution, but that it will inspire others to venture into the unknown realms of planetary science.
Space has intrigued me (infinitely) since childhood. I developed my interest in astronomy with late-night stargazing hours and made it more intense after watching India’s Mars Orbital Mission lift off in 2013. My curiosity became a passion to not only learn about space, but to make valuable contributions to our
When I began STEMspire, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to shatter the stereotype of what kids envisioned when they heard the word science. More often than not, discussions regarding STEM would end with the same professions: medicine or engineering. Both are honorable pursuits, but only a small part
Explore the latest developments in my ongoing research on resource extraction on Mars! I’ve outlined three innovative methodologies, along with key challenges that any future expedition team must be prepared to tackle. Energy harvesting on Mars is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of resource extraction operations and human missions. To
