Atmospheric dynamics in the "Laboratory Biosphere" with wheat and sweet potato crops.

Laboratory Biosphere is a 40-m3 closed life system equipped with 12,000 W of high pressure sodium lamps over planting beds with 5.37 m2 of soil. Atmospheric composition changes due to photosynthetic fixation of carbon dioxide and corresponding production of oxygen or the reverse, respiration, are observed in short timeframes, e.

Airtight sealing a Mars base.

Atmospheric leakage from a Mars base would create a demand for continuous or periodic replenishment, which would in turn require extraction or mining for oxygen and other gases from local resources and attendant equipment and energy requirements for such operations. It therefore becomes a high priority to minimize leakage. This article quantifies leak rates as determined by the size of holes and discusses the implications of pressure for structural configuration.