In One Sentence

I’m creating a computer program that shows how humans can go to Mars and start living there.

It’s like a flight simulator, but for a Mars mission!

Why Mars?

Mars is the most Earth-like planet in our solar system

• Has seasons (like Earth)
• Has ice water (for drinking and fuel)
• A day is 24.6 hours (almost like Earth!)
• You could walk on the surface (with a spacesuit)
• It’s our best option for a “backup planet”

The Vision

“Mars is not just a destination. It’s humanity’s future.”

If something happens to Earth (asteroid, climate disaster, etc.), having people on Mars means humanity survives.

What is Mars Direct?

A realistic plan to send humans to Mars, designed by Dr. Robert Zubrin in the 1990s.

Not science fiction, this is real engineering!

Key idea: Make fuel on Mars instead of bringing it all from Earth

Why Is This Special?

Old NASA plans:

• Bring all fuel from Earth
• Very expensive ($450 billion!)
• Too complicated
• Never happened

Mars Direct:

• Make fuel on Mars using local resources
• Much cheaper (~$30-50 billion)
• Simpler and safer
• Actually doable!

How Does It Work? (Simple Version)

Year 1:

1. Send an unmanned rocket to Mars
2. Lands automatically
3. Starts making fuel using Mars atmosphere
4. Takes 10 months to fill the tanks

Year 2:

1. Send astronauts in a separate spacecraft
2. Land near the first rocket (now full of fuel!)
3. Live on Mars for 18 months
4. Return home in the fueled rocket

The Clever Part: Making Fuel on Mars

What you need:

• CO₂ from Mars atmosphere (free!)
• Little bit of hydrogen brought from Earth
• Solar panels for power
• Chemical plant (like a factory)

What you get:

• Methane (rocket fuel)
• Oxygen (to burn the fuel + breathe!)
• Water (for drinking)

All made on Mars = don’t need to bring it from Earth!

Project Outpost

It’s a 3D computer simulator that shows the entire mission

Like an interactive video game:

• Move the camera around
• Speed up time (years pass in minutes)
• Select objects to see details
• Watch how everything works together

What You’ll See

The complete journey:

1. Launch from Earth (Kennedy Space Center)
2. 6-month journey through space
3. Landing on Mars (scary part!)
4. Robots and astronauts working on surface
5. Making fuel over 10 months
6. Return journey to Earth
7. Splashdown in ocean

All in 3D, from any angle you want!

Why Make This?

Three reasons:

1. Education - Help people understand how Mars missions work
2. Advocacy - Show that going to Mars is possible (not just sci-fi!)
3. Inspiration - Make space exploration exciting and real

If people can see how it works, they’re more likely to support it!

Simluator or computer game?

• A game in form, but a simulator in intent
• Realistic simulation (real physics, real distances)
• Educational tool (like a textbook you can fly through)
• Advocacy tool (show politicians and public it’s possible)

What Makes It Work?

The computer program includes:

• Physics engine - Makes objects move realistically (gravity, rocket thrust, etc.)
• 3D graphics - Draws planets, spacecraft, and equipment
• Time system - Can speed up or slow down time
• Data - Real information about Mars, Earth, orbits

What I’ve Done So Far

Phase 1: Planning (completed 2 years ago)

• Researched Mars Direct mission
• Figured out what the program needs to do

Phase 2: Analysis & Design (just completed!)

• Detailed plans describing what to build and how to build it
• Requirements document for all six domain areas
• Detailed design document for all components

Phase 3: Building (in progress)

• Actually write the computer code
• Target: Summer 2026 for first working version

Current Status

What’s ready:

• All plans complete
• Know exactly what to build
• Designed all the pieces

What’s next:

• Write the code (the actual building phase)
• Test it works correctly
• Create 12 demo scenarios

Timeline: First prototype by June 2026

12 Demo Scenarios

Watch the entire mission in 12 scenes:

1. Launch Day - Rocket lifts off from Earth
2. Journey to Mars - 6 months through space
3. Mars Arrival - First glimpse of the Red Planet
4. Landing - The tense 7 minutes!
5. First Steps - Astronauts on Mars surface
6. Setting Up - Deploy equipment and habitat

12 Demo Scenarios (continued)

Watch the entire mission in 12 scenes:

7. Making Fuel - ISRU plant working
8. Daily Life - 18 months of Mars living
9. Loading Up - Fill the return rocket
10. Going Home - Launch from Mars
11. Journey Back - 6 months to Earth
12. Splashdown - Safe return!

Time Control

Speed up or slow down time:

• Normal speed (1x) - Watch real-time
• Fast forward (10,000x) - See 10 months of fuel production in 1 minute!
• Pause - Stop and look around
• Rewind - Go back to any moment

Like having a time machine for a Mars mission!

Interactive Camera

See everything from any angle:

• Fly around like a spaceship
• Zoom in close to astronauts
• Zoom out to see entire solar system
• Follow rockets as they fly
• Watch from astronaut’s perspective

You control what you see!

Information Panels

Click on anything to learn about it:

• Spacecraft: speed, fuel level, position
• Astronauts: what they’re doing, oxygen levels
• Equipment: status, power, what it does
• Planets: distance, temperature, size

It’s like having Wikipedia inside the simulation!

We Can Actually Do This

Mars Direct is REAL engineering:

• Uses existing technology (no inventions needed!)
• Costs less than Apollo moon program (adjusted for inflation)
• Safer than complicated alternatives
• Could start in the next 10-15 years

The only thing missing is political will and funding.

Why Should We Go?

Scientific reasons:

• Search for past life on Mars
• Understand how planets form
• Test technologies for space living

Survival reasons:

• Backup location for humanity
• Learn to live on other worlds
• Prepare for long-term future

Why Should We Go? (continued)

Inspirational reasons:

• Greatest adventure in human history
• Unite humanity around common goal
• Inspire next generation of scientists

How This Helps

My simulator helps by:

1. Making it understandable - People can see how it works
2. Showing it’s realistic - Not fantasy, real physics
3. Building support - Easier to support something you understand
4. Teaching - Schools and museums can use it

If people understand Mars Direct, they can support funding it!

Scale of the Journey

How far is Mars?

• Earth to Moon: 384,000 km
• Earth to Mars: 225,000,000 km (average)
• That’s 585 times farther than the Moon!

Travel time: 6 months vs. 3 days to Moon

Living on Mars

What would daily life be like?

• Wear spacesuit outside (thin atmosphere)
• Live in pressurized habitat (like submarine)
• Eat greenhouse-grown food
• Recycle water and air
• Low gravity (38% of Earth) - you’d be lighter!
• Red sky during day, blue sunsets!

The First Martians

Who will go first?

• Probably 4 people per mission
• Mix of scientists, engineers, pilots
• Stay for 18 months (not a quick trip!)
• Will become most famous explorers in history
• Like Columbus, but bigger!

“Why not the Moon instead?”

Moon is great for practice, but:

• No atmosphere (no fuel production)
• No water (probably, still searching)
• No protection from radiation
• Nothing to sustain life

“Why not the Moon instead?” (continued)

Mars has:

• Atmosphere (thin, but useful!)
• Lots of water ice
• Resources to make fuel and breathe
• Possibility of growing food eventually

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

Yes, but:

• So was sailing to America in 1492
• So was Apollo to the Moon
• So is climbing Everest (people still do it!)

Mars Direct makes it safer:

• Send fuel first (no stranded astronauts)
• Multiple backup systems
• Proven technology
• Lots of testing first

No exploration is 100% safe, but we minimize risks.

“When will this really happen?”

Realistic timeline:

• 2030s: First humans land on Mars (if funded now)
• 2040s: Regular missions every 2 years
• 2050s: Permanent base with rotating crews
• 2060s: Small settlement/colony

With my simulator:

• Summer 2026: Prototype ready
• Late 2028: Public release (free download!)
• Hopefully helps build support for real missions!

“Can I try it when it’s done?”

Absolutely!

• It will be free (open source)
• Works on Windows and Linux
• You’ll need no powerful computer
• I’ll share the download link

You can explore the mission yourself, show your friends, use it to learn!

What This Project Is

A realistic 3D simulator of the Mars Direct mission that:

• Shows the complete journey to Mars and back
• Uses real physics and engineering
• Helps people understand how we can colonize Mars
• Is free and open source for everyone

Why It Matters

• Makes space exploration understandable for everyone
• Shows going to Mars is possible, not fantasy
• Helps build support for real missions
• Inspires people about humanity’s future

What’s Next

2026: Build the software (in progress)

2028: Release it to the public (free!)

Future: Help build support for actual Mars missions!

A Quote to Remember

“The reason we need to go to Mars is not for Mars. It’s for Earth. It’s for humanity’s future.”

– Dr. Robert Zubrin

Thank You!

Questions?

I’d love to hear what you think!

Want to learn more?

• Book: “The Case for Mars” by Robert Zubrin
• Website: Mars Society (marssociety.org)
• My project: Coming summer 2026!

🚀 Let’s go to Mars! 🚀