Process

Teddy Steelman

The main challenges of building a colony on Mars are the lack of oxygen, water, food, heat, and gravity provided by the Red Planet. A reliable and sustainable source of protein is essential to the survival of the astronauts living in the first Martian community. The Roach Residence is a habitat for an intrusion of cockroaches that allows for humans to eat these animals, while also providing an environment where they can live and replicate for future use. Cockroaches are the perfect insect to bring to Mars as they can withstand the high levels of radiation, they are able to endure a large spectrum of temperatures, and have a high percentage of digestible protein. Our design features a two-chamber habitat that is divided between a community for the cockroaches and a collection site to gather them for eating. The community of cockroaches is split into three levels and has a honeycomb structure that increases surface area to create a comfortable living space. These levels function as drawers that can be pulled into the collection area that includes an acrylic material, fan, and funnel. We chose to use acrylic because the cockroaches struggle to climb on the slippery surface. The fan applies wind to push the cockroaches down into the funnel where they can be collected in a bowl for cooking. With the introduction of the Roach Residence to Mars, colonizers will be provided with a sustainable food source that is high in usable protein, reproduces at a fast rate, and has its own separate habitat within the larger community.