APHRODITES ABODE: a CLOUD HABITAT AMONG THE VENUSIAN SKIES.

Venus, often dubbed Earth's "twin" due to its similar size and proximity, presents a severely contrasting environment. With a surface temperature hot enough to melt lead and a crushing atmospheric pressure, it's a world seemingly inhospitable to life. Yet, amidst this hostile landscape, an fascinating possibility emerges: High above the scorching surface, Venus' atmosphere offers a tempting prospect. At a certain altitude, temperatures and pressures become surprisingly Earth-like which is potentially suitable for human habitation.

Because of the unparalleled engineering and scientific challenges it presents, I was drawn to the concept of a Venus cloud habitat. Fascinated by the prospect of overcoming extreme environmental conditions to create a habitable space, I sought to explore the feasibility of human existence in such an inhospitable atmosphere. My project aims to develop a detailed model of a Venus cloud habitat, considering factors such as structural integrity, life support systems, and energy generation. By employing TINKERCAD software, I hope to contribute to the theoretical foundation for future extraterrestrial habitation.

• TINKERCAD(FOR SOFT COPY)
• CARDBOARD, CELLOTAPE , WHITE PAPER, STICKS, PLASTIC CAPS (FOR PROTOTYPE)

Venus' atmosphere is a dense, toxic blanket. It's composed primarily of carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulfuric acid droplets. Unlike the surface, the atmosphere receives ample sunlight. At altitudes of around 50-70 kilometers, temperatures and pressures become Earth-like.  

In the above graph, we can clearly notice that at altitude of 50-60 km the temperature and pressure is 20-37 degrees Celsius and 1 bar. This is an excellent location for the cloud habitat.

Any habitat would need to have sturdy protection against these corrosive elements and radiation of the planet. Furthermore, it requires a deep understanding of atmospheric dynamics, materials science, and life support systems. Such a habitat would need to be a closed ecosystem, capable of recycling air, water, and waste. Additionally, it would have to generate its own energy, likely through solar panels.

This model consists of a large egg like structure. Three hemispherical capsules, two solar panels, two small cuboidal sections and one large cuboidal structure are attached to this structure.

The egg like structure is chosen because of the following reasons:

• Large surface area to distribute pressure equally.
• To produce huge buoyancy that lifts the model above the Venusian clouds.

The egg like structure can be further divided into three sections:

• The upper part responsible for producing buoyancy.
• The middle part which is used as a pathway for travelling to different sections.
• The lower part which is the main power control center.

The Solar panels are placed because at high altitudes, we can receive ample sunlight to generate power.

Now let's dive into different sections.

The laboratory is one of the important hemispherical domes in which all reactions are carried out. It can be easily identified as a dome having an absorber at the top. These reactions involve production of water, air, refrigerant, methane, hydrogen, preservatives, fuel.

REACTIONS INSIDE LABORATORY

• Firstly, the external Venusian gases which mainly comprises of H2SO4 droplets and CO2 gas is absorbed through the air inlet.
• Next, it is divided into two pipes. One goes for H2SO4 electrolysis and another for Sabatier reaction.

ELECTROLYSIS OF H2SO4:

H2SO4 is electrolyzed to yield H2O, SO2 and O2. The H2O goes for the water storage tank and also for the water electrolyzing plant, the O2 for entire habitat oxygenation and SO2 for further reaction.

ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER:

The water received from electrolyzing sulphuric acid is further electrolyzed to yield Hydrogen and Oxygen. The Hydrogen is used for buoyancy in the egg-like structure and also for the Sabatier reaction while the Oxygen is for the entire habitat oxygenation.

SABATIER REACTION:

The Sabatier reaction is a chemical process that involves the reaction of hydrogen gas (H₂) with carbon dioxide (CO₂) to produce methane (CH₄) and water (H₂O). The reaction is exothermic and typically requires a nickel catalyst to proceed efficiently. The overall reaction can be written as:

CO2+4H2→CH4+2H2O

The reactant CO2 is received from atmosphere and also from the breathing of humans while H2 is received from water electrolyzing plant.

The product CH4 is sent to all room heaters and H2O is sent to water storage tank.

THE CH4:

The methane when used in room heaters, produces CO2 and H2O. Some CO2 is sent again to Sabatier reaction while the excess is released to the atmosphere(As it decreases the buoyancy).

REUSE OF SO2:

SO2 is made to undergo some reactions to yield preservatives, refrigerants and fuel. The preservative goes for the food storage tank, refrigerant for cooling entire habitat and fuel for moving the habitat or any other purposes.

For further info refer the hand drawn diagram.

This centered hemispherical dome is for farming. It involves controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems, such as hydroponics and aeroponics which allows for precise control over nutrients, light, temperature, and humidity.In this model the plants will be grown at three levels near to the walls. These levels can be accessed using an elevator in the middle. The blue pipes generally represent water and nutrients transportation.

The water storage tank is used for collecting all purified drinking water from the laboratory and also from the urine filtration tank.

The food storage is used to preserve food for longer time .The preservatives from the laboratory end up into the tank to prevent spoilage of food.

URINE FILTRATION TANK:

Water is also produced from urine generated by human beings. It is particularly important in closed-loop life support systems to ensure the availability of clean water. This process involves several steps and technologies:

Filtration, Distillation, Reverse osmosis, Adsorption and ion exchange, Electrodialysis, Advanced Oxidation processes and Post treatment.

An escape pod is a capsule designed to evacuate crew members from this habitat in the event of an emergency. Escape pods are equipped with essential life support systems and are intended to ensure the safety and survival of occupants until they can be rescued. These escape pods have enough fuel to reach the ISS. It has three pods where each one can accumulate four members.

It consists of systems for communication with ISS or other habitats, as well as control interfaces for managing habitat operations.

This is the place where humans live, grow and play. It consists of three sections:

1. The cuboidal section: This section acts as a pathway for humans to make their way for their respective capsules.
2. The capsule: The capsule can also referred as house but it is more comfortable to live than houses. They are hanged to the cuboidal section.
3. The Gravitator: One of the primary methods to simulate gravity in space is through centrifugal force. This involves rotating the gravitator, where the centrifugal force experienced at the periphery of the rotating structure mimics the effects of gravity. Objects and inhabitants inside the rotating structure feel pulled outward toward the "floor," similar to how we experience gravity on Earth.

FEATURES:

• Life Support Systems: Advanced systems for air recycling, water purification, waste management, and food production to sustain human life.
• Radiation Protection: Shielding against cosmic radiation and solar radiation.
• Structural Design: Robust construction to ensure safety, durability, and comfort.

Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid (in this case, the atmosphere) on an object immersed in it. For a cloud habitat to float in Venus's atmosphere, the density of the city must be less than the density of the surrounding atmosphere. 

Hydrogen and oxygen are lighter gases compared to the predominant CO2 in Venus's atmosphere. Therefore, hydrogen is filled in the upper part of the egg-like structure whereas oxygen is always supplied from the the laboratory to all sections.This is how the habitat floats in Venusian atmosphere.

The power module powers the entire habitat and is located at the bottom of the egg-like structure. The solar panels are connected to it . It is embedded with lots of sensors ,microchips, macrochips and extra batteries. These regulate the flow of power to the entire habitat.

High-Temperature Resistant Materials:

• Refractory Metals: Materials like tungsten, molybdenum, and tantalum have high melting points and could withstand Venus's surface temperatures (up to 450°C or 842°F).
• Ceramics: Silicon carbide and alumina ceramics are heat-resistant and can withstand high temperatures and corrosion.

Corrosion-Resistant Materials:

• Inconel Alloys: These nickel-chromium alloys are resistant to oxidation and corrosion, suitable for environments with sulfuric acid clouds.
• Titanium: Known for its corrosion resistance, titanium could be used in structural components and protective coatings.

Radiation Shielding Materials:

• Polyethylene: Effective against cosmic radiation due to its hydrogen content, which acts as a shielding material.
• Lead: Provides effective shielding against gamma radiation and certain types of cosmic rays.

Structural Materials:

• Carbon Composites: Lightweight and strong, carbon composites could be used for structural components.
• Titanium Alloys: Strong and lightweight, titanium alloys could be used for structural strength and corrosion resistance.

Insulating Materials:

• Aerogels: Lightweight materials with high insulation properties, potentially useful for thermal insulation in Venus's extreme temperatures.
• Silica-based Insulation: Provides thermal insulation and protection against high temperatures.

1. Solar Radiation Protection:

• Multi-layer Insulation (MLI): Used in spacecraft, MLI consists of layers of reflective materials to protect against solar radiation.
• UV-Resistant Coatings: Coatings and films that can block or reflect UV radiation, reducing exposure to harmful solar radiation.

1. Sealing and Gasket Materials:

• Fluoropolymers: Such as PTFE (Teflon), known for chemical resistance and used in seals and gaskets.
• Viton: Resilient to extreme temperatures and chemical exposure, suitable for sealing applications.

Challenges and Considerations:

• Integration and Compatibility: Materials must be compatible with each other and with the unique environmental conditions of Venus's atmosphere.
• Manufacturability: Developing and manufacturing these materials in sufficient quantities for constructing a cloud city on Venus would require advanced technology and infrastructure.
• Longevity: Materials must be durable enough to withstand Venus's harsh conditions over extended periods.

The prototype is inspired by the idea of an airborne habitat that can remain buoyant in Venus's thick atmosphere. It incorporates principles of aerodynamics, balance, sustainability, and modular construction to ensure adaptability and resilience.The different sections are designed strategically to provide stability and support for the entire structure. They are equipped with advanced materials to withstand the acidic atmosphere of Venus. The Solar panels are also strategically placed to harness the abundant solar energy available in the upper atmosphere, providing power for the habitat.

This is my theoretical idea of how to survive in Venus. I made this model which is best to my knowledge. The materials I have listed is by my research in Internet.

I request you to completely examine my model especially the laboratory.

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/c0TtTiWfg95-cloud-city?sharecode=g-UvT7rwo4D_T6QmSx3LBMXM4qaGh7iaNucjavYcHH8

I am not able to send the link, so kindly open it in Chrome.

Thank you.