The Ironberry Plan: an Electric and Steel-making Way to Build a Science Station on Mars

Abstract

This paper introduces the Ironberry Plan. This practical plan leads to the construction of a science station in the iron region of the Meridiani Planum (IRoM), Mars. It also enables the continuation of NASA’s Water Strategy, the beginning of astronomy from Mars, the landing of humans at IRoM and the beginning of continuous human habitation there. A focus of the plan is to provide abundant electricity on Mars through an intense use of local resources. The characteristic early steps of the Ironberry Plan are: 1. The robotic harvesting and processing of a superb iron ore at IRoM; 2. The use of Mars-optimized, robot-controlled steel-making and manufacture of steel parts; 3. At least for some years, a deliberate push for mutually feeding exponential growth in electricity generation, steel-making and steel manufacture, where early steel manufacture is focused on making more electrical generation equipment; 4. Using the rapidly growing power capacity and advanced robotics and processing of local sediments, the start of many more foundational activities (i.e., water liberation, sulfur-concrete construction, multi-material manufacture, agriculture and more); 5. Using 1-4, the building of a science station at IRoM while also converting excavated sediment caverns into underground, radiation protected spaces for the science station. Keywords: Ironberries, Iron Region of the Meridiani Planum (IRoM), Science Station, Abundant Electricity, Steel-making