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Abstract: Team Mars ER is working in conjunction with NASA's Space Grant
Consortium to design a healthcare module for the initial human exploration of Mars. In the
current scheme by NASA, crews of six will be sent to Mars where a prefabricated habitat awaits
them. The project's goal is to maximize the medical functionality of the facility, while
remaining within established volume and weight constraints. The team's healthcare module is
a subsystem within the prefabricated habitat with 15.9 square meters available, and a 2500 kg
payload. During Phase I of the project, medical illnesses and injuries expected in the Martian
environment were compiled into a preliminary condition list. This list was broken into fifteen
identified healthcare areas. 
Using this list, the team designated the appropriate equipment
and medications for the healthcare module. In order to aid in organization, this information
has been compiled into a working database which will be modified throughout the course of the
project. At this time, estimates on payload and volume capacity for selected equipment are well
within the design constraints. This semester, during Phase II, the team will design and
construct a scale model of the actual facility. A decision matrix will also be applied to the
database in order to make recommendations contingent with the amount of risk a mission is willing
to assume. The project will be completed on April 26, 2006.
