Mars Diamond Module - MDM01

An entry for the Makerbot Mars Base Challenge. The base builds upon a landing capsule which can deliver different payloads - mining equipment, rovers, food, escape pod, living quarters, laboratories etc. The living quarter / laboratory module folds into a diamond shape after the landing. The modules, moved together by a tractor after touchdown, connect by walkways. The inside of the cargo bay petals could be a good place for solar panels.

The design is based upon Nasa research concerning the difficulty of slowing large objects down in the thin martian atmosphere combined with a diamond I made for a different project.

I picked the Configuration X+ shape for the heat shield as described in the PDF "On Heatshield Shapes For Mars Entry Capsules" found here:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20120004297.pdf

Then I came by the SIAD-E, Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, currently being tested and incorporated that into the design as well.

The imag