Mars Base Engineer

(set: $score to 0) (set: $landing to "") (set: $oxygenChoice to "") (set: $waterChoice to "") (set: $energyChoice to "") (set: $radiationChoice to "") (set: $gameOver to false) [[About the Task|About]] <img src="https://img.freepik.com/free-photo/galaxy-night-panorama_23-2148895327.jpg"width="100%">

== 🚀 Mars Base Engineer: STEM Survival Challenge == <img src="https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/040/340/956/large/dennis-li-0f02816742c6676008956b5cb0fa0d8.jpg"width="100%"> About the course: **Task Lesson Description** You are a space engineer who must build a sustainable base on Mars. Each decision is a multiple‑choice question – you need to use the scientific data given to choose correctly. **Learning Objectives** • Apply the ideal gas law to calculate oxygen reserves 📐 • Compare the energy efficiency of different oxygen production technologies ⚡ • Calculate daily net water consumption based on recovery rates 💧 • Evaluate radiation shielding materials by their mass and effectiveness ☢️ --- [[Start Mission|Landing Choice]]

== 🌍 Choose Landing Zone == **Scientific Data** • Equator: 590 W/m² sunlight, 30% dust storm probability, 80°C day‑night Tem difference, very little water ice ❄️ • North Pole: 0 W/m² sunlight during polar night, abundant water ice, temperature -120°C 🌙 <img src="https://img.freepik.com/free-photo/3d-rendering-planet-mars-broadband-internet-system-meet-needs-consumers_181624-59316.jpg"width="100%"> **Question**: Which zone is better for long‑term solar power? [[Equator|Equator Evaluation]] [[North Pole|Pole Evaluation]]

(set: $landing to "Equator") (set: $score to $score + 2) == ☀️ Equator Camp == Correct! The equator has plenty of sunlight for solar power. Now calculate your initial oxygen reserve. **Given**: Cabin volume 120 m³, pressure 1 atm, oxygen concentration 21%. 4 people, each consumes 0.5 L O₂ per minute. **Question**: How many hours can the existing oxygen last? [[120 hours]] [[210 hours]] [[300 hours]]

(set: $landing to "North Pole") (set: $score to $score + 0) == ❄️ North Pole Camp == You chose the North Pole. Solar power is useless during polar night, so you will need nuclear energy. Calculate your initial oxygen reserve (same conditions). **Question**: How many hours can the existing oxygen last? [[120 hours]] [[210 hours]] [[300 hours]]

(set: $score to $score - 2) == ❌ Wrong Calculation == Wrong. Correct calculation: O₂ volume = 120,000 L × 0.21 = 25,200 L Hourly consumption = 4 × 0.5 × 60 = 120 L/h Time = 25,200 / 120 = 210 hours. You underestimated, causing early panic. But there is still hope. [[Continue|Oxygen Tech Choice]]

(set: $score to $score + 3) == ✅ Correct! == Correct! The oxygen will last 210 hours (8.75 days). You have enough time to build oxygen generation equipment. [[Continue|Oxygen Tech Choice]]

(set: $score to $score - 1) == ❌ Wrong Calculation == Wrong. You overestimated the oxygen reserve. The correct answer is 210 hours. Manage your resources carefully. [[Continue|Oxygen Tech Choice]]

== ⚙️ Choose Oxygen Production Technology == **Technical Data**: | Method | Energy (kWh/kg O₂) | Startup time | Production rate (kg/h) | Raw material | |--------|--------------------|--------------|------------------------|---------------| | Electrolysis | 65 | 2 h | 0.5 | Water (scarce) | | MOXIE | 25 | 4 h | 0.6 | Mars CO₂ (infinite) | | Greenhouse | 5 | 30 days | 0.05 | Light + water | 4 people need ~0.6 kg/h of oxygen. Your power supply: 3 kW solar (Equator) or 0.5 kW nuclear battery (North Pole). **Question**: Which technology can reliably produce oxygen within 8 days without consuming precious water? [[Electrolysis]] [[MOXIE]] [[Greenhouse]]

(set: $oxygenChoice to "Electrolysis") (if: $landing is "Equator")[ (set: $score to $score + 0) == 💧 Electrolysis == Electrolysis needs a lot of water (1.125 kg per kg O₂) and high energy. Your 3 kW solar cannot drive a 65 kWh/kg system (needs 39 kW). Oxygen production is insufficient. ](else:)[ (set: $score to $score - 2) == ❌ Electrolysis Fails == At the North Pole you have only 0.5 kW, far too little for electrolysis. Mission fails. (goto: "Ending D") ] [[Try another method|Oxygen Tech Choice2]]

(set: $oxygenChoice to "MOXIE") (if: $landing is "Equator")[ (set: $score to $score + 2) == 🌬️ MOXIE Success == MOXIE uses Mars CO₂ – infinite raw material. NASA’s experimental unit needs only 300 W to produce a small amount. You successfully start it, oxygen is plentiful. ](else:)[ (set: $score to $score + 1) == 🌬️ MOXIE Barely Works == At the North Pole, 0.5 kW can barely drive a small MOXIE, producing 0.2 kg/h. You must conserve oxygen. ] [[Continue|Water Cycle]]

(set: $oxygenChoice to "Greenhouse") (set: $score to $score - 2) == 🌱 Greenhouse == A greenhouse needs 30 days to produce significant oxygen, but your oxygen will run out in 8.75 days. You will suffocate. Bad choice. (goto: "Ending D")

(if: $oxygenChoice is "Electrolysis")[ You realize electrolysis is failing and urgently switch to MOXIE. You survive, but time is lost. (set: $score to $score - 1) (set: $oxygenChoice to "MOXIE") ] [[Continue|Water Cycle]]

== 💧 Water Management == Initial water: 500 L. Each person needs 10 L/day → 40 L/day total. Without recycling, water lasts only 12.5 days. <img src="https://www.uic-process.com/static/picture/csm_Header_Innovationszentrum_54104560a2.jpg"width="100%"> **Technical Data**: | Technology | Recovery rate | Energy (kWh/L) | Daily net loss (L) | |------------|---------------|----------------|--------------------| | Reverse osmosis | 85% | 0.5 | 40 × 0.15 = 6 | | Distillation | 95% | 2.0 | 40 × 0.05 = 2 | | Adsorption | 75% | 0.2 | 40 × 0.25 = 10 | **Question**: Which technology has the smallest net water loss while having acceptable energy consumption (3 kW solar can provide ~72 kWh/day)? [[Reverse Osmosis]] [[Distillation]] [[Adsorption]]

(set: $waterChoice to "Reverse Osmosis") (set: $score to $score + 1) == 💧 Reverse Osmosis == Daily net loss 6 L, so 500 L lasts 83 days. Energy 20 kWh/day – acceptable for equatorial solar power. Workable. [[Continue|Energy Choice]]

(set: $waterChoice to "Distillation") (set: $score to $score + 2) == 💧 Distillation == Daily net loss 2 L, so 500 L lasts 250 days. Energy 80 kWh/day – high but solar can just about provide it if you cut other loads. Reliable. [[Continue|Energy Choice]]

(set: $waterChoice to "Adsorption") (set: $score to $score - 1) == 💧 Adsorption == Daily net loss 10 L, so 500 L lasts only 50 days. Water quality is poor, crew get sick. Bad choice. [[Continue|Energy Choice]]

== ⚡ Choose Energy Source == Total demand ~5 kW (life support + water + oxygen). Options: - Solar + batteries: peak 8 kW, drops to 0.5 kW during night/dust storms. - Nuclear battery (RTG): steady 0.5 kW, low power. - Small nuclear fission reactor: 15 kW, stable, but radiation risk. (if: $landing is "Equator")[ **Question**: Which energy source can reliably provide >5 kW and is not affected by dust storms? [[Solar + Batteries]] [[Nuclear Battery RTG]] [[Nuclear Fission Reactor]] ](else:)[ **Question**: At the North Pole there is no sunlight – which energy source works? [[Solar + Batteries]] [[Nuclear Battery RTG]] [[Nuclear Fission Reactor]] ]

(set: $energyChoice to "Solar") (if: $landing is "Equator")[ (set: $score to $score + 1) == ☀️ Solar Power == Solar works at the equator, but dust storms are a risk. You install battery banks. ](else:)[ (set: $score to $score - 2) == ❌ Solar Fails == <img src="https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/solar-panels-roof-empty-quarter-desert-environmentally-friendly-energy_327072-13604.jpg"width="100%"> At the North Pole, polar night means no sunlight at all. Mission fails. (goto: "Ending D") ] [[Continue|Radiation Shielding]]

(set: $energyChoice to "RTG") (if: $landing is "North Pole")[ (set: $score to $score + 0) == 🔋 Nuclear Battery == RTG gives only 0.5 kW, far below the 5 kW demand. You can only run basic life support. (set: $score to $score - 1) ](else:)[ (set: $score to $score - 1) == 🔋 Nuclear Battery == Even at the equator, an RTG is underpowered. ] [[Struggle on|Radiation Shielding]]

(set: $energyChoice to "Nuclear Fission") (set: $score to $score + 2) == ⚛️ Nuclear Fission Reactor == <img src="https://copyright.bdstatic.com/vcg/creative/2fa284693a922461378712e6ebc041a2.jpg"width="100%"> Power 15 kW, stable and reliable. You need to add radiation shielding. [[Continue|Radiation Shielding]]

== ☢️ Radiation Shielding == Mars surface radiation: 0.2 mSv/day. You must reduce it to below 0.05 mSv/day. Shielding effectiveness depends on areal density (kg/m²). <img src="https://www.ccnta.cn/uploadfile/2024/1129/20241129113713622.jpg"width="100%"> **Material data**: | Material | Density (g/cm³) | 30 cm areal density (kg/m²) | Shielding factor | |----------|----------------|-----------------------------|------------------| | Soil | 1.5 | 450 | 0.9 | | Polyethylene | 0.95 | 285 | 0.8 | | Aluminum | 2.7 | 810 | 0.7 | ps. Radiation after shielding = 0.2 × (1 - shielding factor): - Soil: 0.02 mSv/day ✅ - Polyethylene: 0.04 mSv/day ✅ - Aluminum: 0.06 mSv/day 🤔 **Question**: Which material is both safe and available on‑site? [[Martian Soil]] [[Polyethylene]] [[Aluminum]]

(set: $radiationChoice to "Soil") (set: $score to $score + 2) == 🪨 Soil Shielding == Radiation drops to 0.02 mSv/day – safe and free. Perfect choice! [[Continue|Crisis Event]]

(set: $radiationChoice to "Polyethylene") (set: $score to $score + 1) == 🧪 Polyethylene Shielding == Radiation 0.04 mSv/day – safe, but it has to be shipped from Earth, expensive. [[Continue|Crisis Event]]

(set: $radiationChoice to "Aluminum") (set: $score to $score - 1) == 🔩 Aluminum Shielding == <img src="https://copyright.bdstatic.com/vcg/creative/2fa284693a922461378712e6ebc041a2.jpg"width="100%"> Radiation 0.06 mSv/day – still above the limit. Long‑term health risk. [[Continue|Crisis Event]]

(set: _rand to (random: 1, 3)) (if: _rand == 1)[(goto: "Dust Storm")] (if: _rand == 2)[(goto: "Water Failure")] (if: _rand == 3)[(goto: "Decompression Sickness")]

== 🌪️ Dust Storm == A 7‑day dust storm hits. If you rely on solar power, output drops to 0.5 kW. (if: $energyChoice is "Solar")[ Your solar panels are covered with dust. Power is critically low. You must shut down non‑essential systems. <img src="https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1303898974/photo/dust-and-sand-covered-solar-panel-surface-in-the-desert.jpg"width="100%"> **Question**: What should you turn off to keep life support running? [[Water recycling]] [[Partial oxygen production]] [[Heaters]] ](else:)[ Your nuclear power is unaffected. Everything runs normally. After the storm you clean the dust.<img src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/12/11/00/56/desert-5821732_1280.jpg"width="100%"> (set: $score to $score + 1) [[Continue|Final Score Check]] ]

(set: $score to $score - 1) == ❌ Bad Decision == Shutting down water recycling causes dehydration. The crew suffers but survives. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score - 2) == ⚠️ Dangerous Decision == Cutting oxygen production causes the oxygen level to drop. The crew falls unconscious. Only one person survives until rescue. [[Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score + 0) == ✅ Right Decision == <img src="http://k.sinaimg.cn/n/sinakd20109/0/w1600h800/20210519/bbb2-kqhwhrk0637464.jpg/w700d1q75cms.jpg"width="100%"> You turn off the heaters. Cabin temperature drops to -30°C, but life support keeps working. Everyone wears thermal suits for 7 days. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

== 💧 Water Recycling Failure == The water recycling system stops. You must choose a repair option. (if: $waterChoice == "Reverse Osmosis")[ **Problem**: The high‑pressure pump motor burned out. You have a spare pump; replacement takes 2 hours. [[Replace immediately]] [[Try temporary fix]] ] (if: $waterChoice == "Distillation")[ **Problem**: The heating element is broken. You can weld it. [[Weld it]] [[Manual distillation]] ] (if: $waterChoice == "Adsorption")[ **Problem**: The filter is clogged. You have a spare. [[Replace filter]] [[Bypass and dump waste]] ]

(set: $score to $score + 1) == 🔧 Successful Repair == You quickly replace the pump. Water recycling is restored with minimal loss. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score - 1) == ❌ Repair Fails == The temporary fix doesn’t work. Water recycling is down for 2 days, causing water shortage. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score + 1) == 🔥 Welding Success == You successfully weld the heating element. Distillation is back online. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score - 1) == 🔥 Inefficient Manual Distillation == Manual distillation is very inefficient. Daily net loss rises to 10 L, water runs out faster. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score + 0) == 🔧 Filter Replaced == The new filter works, but adsorption itself is inefficient. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score - 2) == ☠️ Water Poisoning == Bypassing the filter dumps untreated wastewater into the storage tank. Everyone gets poisoned. [[Final Score Check]]

== 🚨 Decompression Sickness == An airlock leak causes cabin pressure to drop suddenly. You need to act quickly. **Question**: What should you do first? [[Repair the leak]] [[Give oxygen to the patient]] [[Call Earth]]

(set: $score to $score + 1) == ✅ Correct == Repair the leak first, then re‑pressurize. The patient recovers. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score - 1) == ❌ Wrong == Giving oxygen alone does not solve the pressure problem. Bubbles remain in the bloodstream. The patient gets worse. [[Continue|Final Score Check]]

(set: $score to $score - 2) == ⏰ Too Late == Calling Earth takes 20 minutes – by then the patient has died. [[Final Score Check]]

(if: $score >= 10)[(goto: "Ending A")] (if: $score >= 5 and $score < 10)[(goto: "Ending B")] (if: $score >= 0 and $score < 5)[(goto: "Ending C")] (if: $score < 0)[(goto: "Ending D")]

== 🏆 Mars Pioneer == Every decision you made was based on precise calculations. The base runs perfectly. After 30 days, rescue arrives and you become a hero. **STEM Score: Excellent!** 🌟 [[Restart|Start]] | [[Course Objectives|About]]

== ✅ Survivor == You survived, but some of your choices were not optimal. Pay closer attention to the scientific data next time. **STEM Score: Pass** 👍 [[Restart|Start]]

== ⚠️ Barely Alive == Several critical decisions were wrong. The base barely holds together. **STEM Score: Needs Improvement** 📚 [[Try Again|Start]]

== 💀 Mission Failed == Misusing the data led to suffocation, dehydration, or radiation poisoning. Everyone perishes. [[Restart|Start]]