Energy aspects of exploration / colonization of Mars
Event details
| Date | 07.05.2014 |
| Hour | 17:15 |
| Speaker |
Pierre-André Haldi : Graduated from the Technical School of Geneva in 1966 (technical engineer in electrical and nuclear engineering). Degree from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 1972 (engineer - physicist). Doctor of Science from EPFL in 1980 (Research on the transport of heavy ion inertial confinement fusion). Various certificates of 3rd cycle course in computer science, engineering and nuclear energy. Teacher and researcher at the EPFL in 1972 to 2011 in the areas of energy systems and the analysis and management of industrial and natural hazards. Former director of postgraduate studies cycle energy EPFL. Teaching thermodynamics at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg ( 2013). Retired EPFL since February 2011, but has continued to be active in teaching activities in this institution until January 2014. Scientific consultant to the EPFL Energy Center since February 2011. Vice-President of the Mars Society Switzerland, where he has lectured on the subject of the exploration and colonization of the red planet in Switzerland and abroad. |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
The feasibility of manned flights to Mars is essentially a problem of energy nature (economic course, but the two are closely related). If this question is put aside, everything becomes possible, including sending to Mars a fleet of 10 vessels, carrying 70 astronauts and requiring the use of low-Earth orbit more than 37,000 tons, as envisaged by Wernher von Braun in early 1950 ! We can happily carry out this mission with a much lower energy expenditure. This is what will be presented in this conference to begin by recalling the principles of interplanetary navigation along paths "economic" and focusing on energy sources available for the flight (we will see that there is no need to take everything with them from Earth) and on the red planet for long stays. This is the "Mars Direct" concept proposed and defended by the American engineer and expert systems space propulsion Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society in the U.S. (a brief video animation on this project will be presented at the end of the seminar).
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- Energy Center