Dmitry Zhuikov, Arina Ageeva, and Krassimir Krastev of the Russian ZA Architects group lay out an interesting plan for a Mars Colony that starts with robots digging large chambers in basalt bedrock.
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Their guidelines:
Purpose of the project – is in research of the possibility to build permanent settlements on Mars, using robotics and local materials to reduce the price and risks.
resources available on mars
1.The surface of Mars is primarily composed of basalt2. The Phoenix lander directly sampled water ice in Martian soil[3.] Some martian soil appropriate for groving certain agricultures e.g. AsparagusBasalt is good material to make a protectional cave on, to produce insulation, and basalt roving, which is stronger than steel.
Possibility of food production will make Martian settlements independent of expensive deliveries from the Earth.
[Colonization] stages
1. Rocket with digging robots are sent to the Mars
2. Robots drop-off on the surface
3. Robots analyze basalt columns on strength value, then each chooses a weakest pillar that equidistant from the others – it is a start position
4. Robots drill basalt, moving down and increasing diameter of withdrawn rock with each step, until it reaches strong pillars that remain
as columns
5. Chaff set aside to form network of the rampants, in order to protect skylight holes from the wind and dust
6. After caves are ready human [expedition] rush to the Mars
7. Astronauts finish the construction and arrange technical facilities as water, oxygen, basalt processing line, etc.
8. Using generated basalt roving, robots weave spatial spider-like web, that will be used as spaces and construction to hold domestic and technical facilities
They include more info and images…
In Stargate SG-1, some allies of Earth called the Tok’ra lived in underground tunnels formed by a high tech system that left columnar rock on the walls.
http://www.rdanderson.com/stargate/entries/images/tokratunnels.jpg
Seems rather familiar. They first showed up in an episode broadcast in 1998.
I Googled for images for caverns like that on earth. Below are some of the ones I found, The most impressive are the photos of basalt column structures visible above ground:
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/basalt-pillars-line-fingals-cave-jim-richardson.jpg
http://www.zacktravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Fingals_Cave.jpg
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/basalt-cave-cavern-24685353.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7484060518_2f49bb590e_z.jpg
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/12/07/good-day-at-black-rock-10-cool-columnar-basalt-formations/
Some really neat formations there. I’ve been to Devil’s Tower, I’ll have to check out some of the others if I’m ever in their areas.