The Recycling of Gases

An integral part to the sustaining of life within the biodome is the recycling of gases.  An Earth-like atmosphere would be ideal for the biodome because of the presence of human, plant, and possible animal-life. Earth’s atmosphere is comprised of about 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen, and this would be ideal for our purposes considering that even in the International Space Station, the air has this same composition.

Assuming that our biodome has a balance of plant-life and animal/human life, carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced by animals and humans can be separated by the plant life into breathable oxygen gas (O₂) and Carbon that the plant uses. In a case of an emergency, oxygen can actually be collected from the atmosphere of Ganymede, which does have some oxygen within it. As long as there is an oxygen surplus created by the plants, we could also collect and store the oxygen created by them in case of emergency or departure from the moon.

Colonel J. Randolph

Exothermic Reactions

Controlling the temperature of our Bio dome is a major concern for us on Ganymede. With this in mind, it may be more difficult than we first thought. The temperature on Ganymede is between -204 and -121 degrees Celsius. That being said, we would need a significant heat source in order to keep the dome in survivable conditions. Many exothermic reactions would be taking place in our dome, just as they would on Earth. And exothermic reaction is a reaction in which energy is given off in the form of heat. These reactions strengthen and stabilize bonds of the compounds in which the reaction occurred. One such reaction is one very well known, and occurs constantly inside our own bodies. This is a combustion reaction, and is responsible for our warm body systems.

Endothermic Reactions

Ganymede is a moon composed of a variety of metals, water (in form of solid ice), carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. From research some even predict that organic compounds could be present on the moon. With this being said, if we were to bring a form of vegetation to our bio dome along with access usable water and organic compound (soil, gravel, dirt, etc.), and then we could create a system. In this system the plants would be planted in the organic material and watered with the melted ice, along with the humans CO2 to undergo photosynthesis and produce oxygen within the bio dome. This is a endothermic reaction because to produce the oxygen the plants have to absorb sunlight in the form of heat/ UV rays. If the reaction or system requires energy or heat to complete the reaction than it is an endothermic reaction and has a positive charge.

Heat insulation within the Ganymede Biodome

The range of temperature on Ganymede is -204 Celsius to -121 Celsius—that’s pretty cold! If a colony is to be set up on the moon, it must be able to generate and, more importantly, insulate heat within the biodome. After the biodome is installed on the planet and a livable temperature is established for the colonists, heat insulation is key, therefore the biodome will ideally have negligible heat loss naturally.

In the case of uncontrolled and accidental energy dispersion within the biodome, like in the case of an electrical fire, radiation, or a problem with an inter-biodome energy extractor, cold Oxygen gas can be filtered in from the atmosphere in certain amounts as the problem is fixed. In this event, the cold air would then be moved throughout the entire dome if necessary with more fans.

Colonel J. Randolph

Nuclear Chemistry and Providing Our Biodome with Power

In nuclear chemistry fusion reactions as well as fission reactions are important aspects. Fusion reactions are reactions in which two or more nuclei combine to form an element with a higher atomic number. Fusion reactions release heat. In order to have a fusion reaction occur the nuclei of the elements have to be brought very close so that the nuclear force commences.  Fusion reactions most likely occur in an environment with high density. This information could be used in our biodome to keep it warm and the people living in it safe. Also other elements could be formed that are needed to survive. 

Fission reactions are reactions in which the nucleus of an atom is split. This process works by using an isotope and besieging it with a smaller one that usually turns out to be a neutron. The collision causes the bigger isotope to break into two or more parts. This type of reaction also releases energy. The energy could be used to produce electricity in order to operate machines and electric devices.

A big problem and concern with nuclear energy is that the radiation that is produced is harmful for the human body. As a result the people who live in our biodome would have a higher risk of cancer.

Our first choice of energy would have been solar energy because it would be almost steady and safer than most other resources but the moon Ganymede doesn’t get a lot of sun which would make this choice very inefficient. Our second choice is nuclear energy. We want to use it without harming our citizens and will have to take an expert with us that can perform the process safely. In order to be able to get the power to run our biodome easily we will have to take a generator with us that can provide the power that is needed to perform the process of fission. This is because fission is performed most easily within an environment of high temperature and high density.

Welcome to Ganymede

Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter, and the largest in the Solar System! It is larger than the planet Mercury, is surrounded by a thick layer of ice, and has a thin atmosphere of oxygen.