B
Butch Penton
Guest
Okay, just give me a minute to explain (and for God's sake, don't include my comment in yours).
I want to create a fictional MASCAR (Mars Association of Stock Car Racing). I know it's far-fetched (I write science fiction) but I think this discussion will be fun for gearheads (beautiful minds) and I think this is the place to create my race cars and even the track composition (no rubber trees on Mars).
When we eventually colonize the red planet, everything 'literally required' to build 'anything' (the big 4) is already there: Carbon, Nitrogen, and we can make Oxygen and Hydrogen. Of course we won't have rubber or petroleum products. Entertainment will damn sure include racing, the second oldest profession, so that's where you guys and gals come in.
First of all, Mars gravity is one third of Earth, .38 to be specific. Secondly, The atmosphere of Mars is about 100 times thinner than Earth's which means that there are no winds to worry about (forget the windstorm in "The Martian" film (doesn't work that way), but the problem with low pressure is that I need your help to generate downforce (the NASCAR 2017 downforce package is out the window so don't bother with that).
To keep a 'car' to stick, it will require something ...something I'm asking you guys to figure out? Immense weight? Enormous fins to take advantage of what little atmosphere there is in places I cannot imagine?
Also, it is 95 percent carbon dioxide which would suffocate him, but he wouldn't notice if his skin was exposed to the low atmosphere because every molecule in his body would boil and he would literally explode if the damage to 'a suit to be developed with your help' is torn badly.
What about fuel? Batteries are heavy so maybe that's good to keep the car stuck to the track. On the other hand, there are existing units that can separate oxygen from the CO2 and Methane is available in reasonable amounts, so how about a small methane/oxygen rocket on straightaways with standard braking in the corners? These are just amateur suggestions that fail to address suspension, side force, driver protection (including an oxygen supply). As for suspension, would less gravity and atmosphere require hugely different concepts for suspension? Engine will be exotic as described but can it drive a standard drive shaft, axel, gearbox, etc?
What composition will be the tires on what kind of track? Mars soil is iron oxide (which is why it is the red planet). Iron Oxide would mean rust if there were enough oxygen but there isn't. It is the consistency of a 1 inch powder over a more stable underlayment. I was thinking of spikes like the oldschool short track motorcycles, but that would for sure rip suits and kill instantly. But is a metal compound still the most reasonable without rubber? Carbon composites are available...
There are no stupid ideas and nothing is too bizarre for science fiction if it is 'reasonable'.
Considerations:
Carbon dioxide: 95.32 percent
Nitrogen: 2.7 percent
Argon: 1.6 percent
Oxygen: 0.13 percent
Carbon monoxide: 0.08 percent
Also, minor amounts of: water, nitrogen oxide, neon, hydrogen-deuterium-oxygen, krypton and xenon.
* Oh yeah, I'll clone Harvick so that the #4 car will eventually break the King's all-time win records, though you guys won't let it count because you are racist xenophobia against Martians, even though they will be human. Deplorable, just frikken deplorable.
-help please-
I want to create a fictional MASCAR (Mars Association of Stock Car Racing). I know it's far-fetched (I write science fiction) but I think this discussion will be fun for gearheads (beautiful minds) and I think this is the place to create my race cars and even the track composition (no rubber trees on Mars).
When we eventually colonize the red planet, everything 'literally required' to build 'anything' (the big 4) is already there: Carbon, Nitrogen, and we can make Oxygen and Hydrogen. Of course we won't have rubber or petroleum products. Entertainment will damn sure include racing, the second oldest profession, so that's where you guys and gals come in.
First of all, Mars gravity is one third of Earth, .38 to be specific. Secondly, The atmosphere of Mars is about 100 times thinner than Earth's which means that there are no winds to worry about (forget the windstorm in "The Martian" film (doesn't work that way), but the problem with low pressure is that I need your help to generate downforce (the NASCAR 2017 downforce package is out the window so don't bother with that).
To keep a 'car' to stick, it will require something ...something I'm asking you guys to figure out? Immense weight? Enormous fins to take advantage of what little atmosphere there is in places I cannot imagine?
Also, it is 95 percent carbon dioxide which would suffocate him, but he wouldn't notice if his skin was exposed to the low atmosphere because every molecule in his body would boil and he would literally explode if the damage to 'a suit to be developed with your help' is torn badly.
What about fuel? Batteries are heavy so maybe that's good to keep the car stuck to the track. On the other hand, there are existing units that can separate oxygen from the CO2 and Methane is available in reasonable amounts, so how about a small methane/oxygen rocket on straightaways with standard braking in the corners? These are just amateur suggestions that fail to address suspension, side force, driver protection (including an oxygen supply). As for suspension, would less gravity and atmosphere require hugely different concepts for suspension? Engine will be exotic as described but can it drive a standard drive shaft, axel, gearbox, etc?
What composition will be the tires on what kind of track? Mars soil is iron oxide (which is why it is the red planet). Iron Oxide would mean rust if there were enough oxygen but there isn't. It is the consistency of a 1 inch powder over a more stable underlayment. I was thinking of spikes like the oldschool short track motorcycles, but that would for sure rip suits and kill instantly. But is a metal compound still the most reasonable without rubber? Carbon composites are available...
There are no stupid ideas and nothing is too bizarre for science fiction if it is 'reasonable'.
Considerations:
Carbon dioxide: 95.32 percent
Nitrogen: 2.7 percent
Argon: 1.6 percent
Oxygen: 0.13 percent
Carbon monoxide: 0.08 percent
Also, minor amounts of: water, nitrogen oxide, neon, hydrogen-deuterium-oxygen, krypton and xenon.
* Oh yeah, I'll clone Harvick so that the #4 car will eventually break the King's all-time win records, though you guys won't let it count because you are racist xenophobia against Martians, even though they will be human. Deplorable, just frikken deplorable.
-help please-
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