Martian Kangoo

Have you ever wanted a rocket pack to soar amongst the sky? Now you can … on Mars… Gravity is less, atmospheric density is less, and the vistas are breathtaking. So come to Mars...

Buck Rogers aside, Mars is an interesting environment for out-of-this-world mobility options for an explorer. This challenge asks for the definition of a conceptual mobility solution to allow an astronaut to easily and rapidly explore Mars including overcoming obstacles such as cliffs, ravines and other difficult terrain. The solution should be person-portable and any means or source of propulsion be locally produced.

This challenge can be answered by:

• producing an app to simulate your adventures in building your jet pack and flying around Mars;
• produce an app that provides the local gravity, atmospheric conditions (density, weather, anything-else-of-interest) to help decide what is needed for your jet pack design;
• perform a feasibility/conceptual study of an actual jet pack design that could use potential Mars fuel sources; or Design and Demonstrate a model scale jet pack using hardware.

Hello World! We are Space Kangaroos, 9 engineers from Naples, Italy.

Our project deals with Jet Set Mars, in the technology field. Its name is Martian Kangoo, a Jet Set that provides a mobility solution for an easier exploration of Mars’ irregular surface, jump by jump.

We have realized a simple system including “Kangoo boots” and a liquid or hybrid “Jet Pack”.

“Kangoo Boots” consist of two elastic shells joined by a T-spring. The astronaut can jump impressing a force on the boots, the shells approach each other and T-spring is stretched, so that the T-Spring restoring elastic force takes the shells back to their initial position, consequently astronaut receives a force that pushes him up. “Kangoo Boots” are realized with an elastic material such as Titanium or TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), able to resist high and low temperatures and characterized by a low density value. Therefore, it is possible to produce light and flexible components such as springs. If astronaut doesn’t need to use it, the system can be retracted with a translational movement through a guide, after a rotation of about 100 degrees, thanks to a hinge placed in the boots. “Kangoo Boots” are also useful to help astronauts during landing with jet pack, with its damping action, to remain in a correct position and to contrast the negative effects of the less-than-Earth gravity, especially on muscles and bones.

On the other side, two different concepts of “Jet Pack” have been developed.

• Jet Pack with liquid rocket thrusters based on liquid methane/liquid oxygen propellants:

Zubrin (Zubrin, 1991) has demonstrated that liquid CH ₄ can be produced from CO ₂ (rich in Martian atmosphere) by means of nuclear reactor. The liquid rocket must be equipped with two 7 litres tanks (one for CH ₄ and one for LOX). The weight of propellants carried is about 10 kg.

• Jet Pack with hybrid rocket thrusters based on paraffin wax/liquid oxygen propellants:

Paraffin wax can be transported on Mars and the solid fuel grains can be produced locally (ideally using a 3D printer). The advantage is its simplicity since damaged components can be easily replaced. The weight of fuel carried is about 11 kg.

Both Jet Packs have been designed in order to exert a thrust of 600N for 60 s, such a force would be able to sustain a weight of 150 kg on Mars, due to the lower gravity.

With our Jet Set, an astronaut can explore Mars easily and rapidly, overcoming obstacles such as cliffs, ravines and other difficult terrains and jumping in both vertical and horizontal directions, or even to fly.

The solution is person-portable, can be worn without assistance and fuel can be produced locally.

Martian Kangoo will change the way to explore planets…no more simply astronauts but Space Kangaroos.

Source for producing propulsion locally on Mars: http://www.marssociety.org/home/about/mars-direct