Mars Questions

Hi,

I've lurked on and off around here over the past few years, but never
posted. Not that I remember, anyway. But I've finished the second
draft of my first novel, a political thriller set on Mars in the
mid-2100s (possibly subject to change) and I have questions regarding
Mars itself that I don't think I can get answered at
rec.arts.sf.composition, my usual home to lurk and occasionally post.
And since my questions are rather specific, I figured a new topic
would be appropriate.

The situation: There are domed cities, but outside the domes, Mars is
pretty much the way it is now, no terraforming. The cities have an
underground component, sort of cities below the cities where life
support systems and the worker class live. Air in the underground and
under the domes approximates Earth's. People outside the dome, on the
surface, wear environment suits. I don't get technical as it's not my
specialty, but the suits have full life support to sustain them for a
few hours, with air tanks, etc., nice and lightweight.

My problem: I don't know what can or can't happen in the natural
atmosphere on Mars. Googling "blowing things up on Mars" or something
similar hasn't gotten me useful results.

The questions:

1. I have a bad guy on the surface and he needs to kill the people in
a transport carrier that is parked in Daedalia Planum. The transport
is secure and has life support. The people are probably in their
suits, but most likely don't have their helmets on. He has a weapon
that can fire rounds that will pierce the carrier. Can he blow it up?
If he shoots holes in it, what would happen?

2. The bad guy then goes underground to destroy a partially built
underground city that had been destroyed during a cave-in. Some
tunnels remain, but most of the breathable air has been expended. The
original cave-in was caused by an explosion. I didn't specify the type
of device used, but at that time, there was Earth-like atmosphere down
there. I figured the concussive force of the charges brought down the
dirt like an avalanche. Most of the victims suffocated. And since
there was oxygen in the air, there could have been explosions and fire
damage as well as shrapnel from the metals being used in the
construction. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

For this final act of destruction, what kind of device would do the
trick, since the atmosphere is mostly gone or reverted to what's
natural for tunnels under Mars? Would it need to be some sort of pulse
device? Sonic? Something I'd never think of?

3. If a person in an environment suit falls on the surface and somehow
cracks his oxygen tank, would it explode? Plume of air escape? The
hose attaching it to his suit is also nicked? I know he'll die of lack
of oxygen, but I'm interested in what would happen to the suit, tank,
and his body.

Similarly, in Question 2, what would the bodies be like when found
days later by people trying to excavate the site? Most of them were in
regular work clothes if they were in sections with air. Others would
have been in environment suits, some of which would have been
breached.

Thanks for your time and for any help you can give me.

-- Shelly

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: An outfit suitable for Mars
    ... Mars trip, but removing the bad module could solve the problem. ... Or at least any death ... >> Well it does seem a little difficult for just one astronaut to end up ... I doubt that the suits will be suitable. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Mars Questions
    ... surface, wear environment suits. ... few hours, with air tanks, etc., nice and lightweight. ... The atmosphere of Mars is very low pressure, ... could use some sort of incendiary rounds. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
  • Solar Wind Rips Up Martian Atmosphere
    ... Solar Wind Rips Up Martian Atmosphere ... "It helps explain why Mars has so little air," says David Brain of UC ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • Re: Mars Questions
    ... Mars itself that I don't think I can get answered at ... few hours, with air tanks, etc., nice and lightweight. ... explosions, say from fuel tanks. ... of device used, but at that time, there was Earth-like atmosphere down ...
    (rec.arts.sf.science)
  • Re: Could a human walk on Titans surface?
    ... without a spacesuit? ... Didn't you see "Mars Attacks"? ... would if you held even a small amount of air in your lungs. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
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