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[Madman198237]

Algae is remarkably space-efficient if used in relatively shallow water. Disks of algae "farms" could make up our entirely-natural air cycling system.

Add in a field, to which we add fertilizers (Including human excrement [sorry guys, it had to be said] and human remains [Who said you can't be buried in space?]) and suddenly we've got a closed-system environment and are indefinitely self-sustainable.

[Nirur Torir]

Is there some reason why we're leaving the system? If we're capable of cobbling together a way to survive in the void indefinitely, landing on Mars and surviving there should be relatively easy.

[Madman198237]

Well, I mean, we can.

But that's not as fun as straight-up packing up and going to go find another habitable world.

Also, Mars is probably not terribly easy to pull metals out of. Now, obviously, we don't know that for sure, but Mars obviously does not have as high a metal content as the Earth does. It would require large-scale mining AND A MEANS TO GO TO AND FROM THE SURFACE.

Asteroids are easier.

[Tack]

I could throw out a bunch of dream-crushing handwaves like "Elysium claimed earth and totally will orbital-laser you" or "it would take a prohibitively long time to develop landing-capable propulsion.

But these ideas are basically half the fun, so I'm definitely not going to killjoy them.
ISS would probably be super happy to claim those seeds, except I think that your solar orbit won't bring you within shuttling distance for many a year.

[Nirur Torir]

I could throw out a bunch of dream-crushing handwaves like "Elysium claimed earth and totally will orbital-laser you" or "it would take a prohibitively long time to develop landing-capable propulsion.

We should totally build a reinforced nose-cone and use ram through them to lose enough momentum to safely land on Mars.

[FallacyofUrist]

Algae Tanks: (2) NUKE9.13, FallacyofUrist
Algae Tanks B: (1) helmacon

We need food, we need oxygen. Two problems, one design.

[helmacon]

Algae systems would not be a good way to make food.

[Madman198237]

To be the best of everything involved:
Algae Tanks (C)
Composed of nothing more than squat cylinders a few inches in height and any diameter necessary, this combination of food source and air cleaner pumps air in through the bottom and collects the oxygen-rich result at the top. Full of a combination of water and algae, with a light source in the center and a few lights along the walls, this fairly cheap alternative to a regular air processing system can also be used to provide biomass for whatever might need it. While it might not taste great, this form of algae is edible, and thus provides a sustainable food source for our population, in addition to processing air. These will be installed wherever there is room.


While not the BEST way to make food, algae is an acceptable alternative. Also, it's probably the best way we have as far as processing air back into breathable air.

[RAM]

Algae farms sound too good. We need stupid alternatives...
Community farms
We revise our hydroponic farms into mass-producible form that can be managed by untrained civilians. They operate as one-part crop-field, one-part septic tank, and one-part garden, making heavy use of vines to spread greenery as far as possible from a relatively small root.
 Aims for a more integrated approach to the problem than having segregated oxygen systems. Should be enough to buy us some time to get something better...

Shoot-suit
A wearable hydroponic farm, likely growing grass, that can be injected with nutrient matter. Aiming for minimal productivity, the sole purpose is to spread oxygen production and create a waste-matter economy. Hopefully won't be involved in rioting.

Plant People N
We splice humans with algae and hope for photosynthesis.

Plant People R
Vines, roots, flytraps, sunflowers... We assemble all the floral musculature-equivalents that we can, along with various stimulation devices, into a topiary. These are used as manual labourers and act as waste-receptacles, oxygen farms, and morale boosters. Sentience not required, but mad scientists everywhere will look on with disappointed-puppy faces...

Also, we need more space, going to have to convert some of our ships into cylinders, but that'll take a while I imagine, probable need some construction materials first. Also, we will want mining shuttles before too long and weaponry to keep meteors at bay should we choose to get snuggly with the belts.

[FallacyofUrist]

Plant People N
We splice humans with algae and hope for photosynthesis.

I'll support this next turn if you propose it again.

[VoidSlayer]

Revision: Waste Collection and Recycling

Nothing pulled out of the water is really undesirable, only mixed in at it's current form is it a problem.  If we collect all the waste from the water we can put it to good use in the hydroponic farms, and maybe other places, completing the cycle as it were.  The first step is to get people to bring it to a central area, then sort it all out and redistribute it.

[Tack]

A universal water recycling system is absolutely a design. Revising waste collection would be a change to the crude distilleries used now.

There has been a lot of designs flitting around but not a lot of Votes.
I'll give it a little while and then lock in Algae A.

[Tack]

Algae Tanks A
Efficacy: [6] Cost: [6] Time: [1]
Some minor issues came to the fore with the Algae tanks to begin with, for example, how to keep the water inside. Zero-gravity makes water surprisingly belligerent, and after a few bubbles made a break for freedom it was decided a different system would be relied upon.
After some experimentation, thick mats made of an unidentifiable material the team of bald scientists was unwilling to disclose were laid around the inside of the barrels. Water seemed happy enough to stick to them, given a low enough flow rate, and Algae could be implanted with relative ease. All that was needed is the introduction of carbonated water (from a genius with a fishtank pump) and the demonstration model was working in full swing.
The introduction of phosphorous (say, from waste) could cause a bloom and increased oxygen production, but would cause a dangerously contaminated food supply.
Unfortunately one issue arose, which was deciding which ship would house the new food and oxygen supply. Each lifeboat vehemently pressed for their own setup, so that they would still be safe in the event of a rogue asteroid. Unfortunately, debate continued long after the fatigued technicians fell asleep, and the remaining few awake were unable to stop the rousing concensus that each and every section of the ship would require one, in case of emergency.
Either way, the tanks in the Science and Engineering pods are chugging away quite happily, despite the occasional brown-out.
Time: 6 Units
Total Cost: 24 metal, 12 electronics, 24 Water (4/2/4pTU)
Provides: 48 Oxygen, 48 Food per 12 Power and at the cost of 48 Water. (8/8|2/8 pTU)

Currently containing 4 metal, 2 electonics, 4 water
Currently removing 8 water and using 2 power to provide 8 food and 8 oxygen.
Warning- Power Shortage

The Revision phase has begun- you have 2 dice left to spend.

[NUKE9.13]

I beg your pardon? We rolled a 6 for cost, and the project is going to cost more than our entire starting stockpile?

[Khang36]

Probably has to do with the fact that our ship is still just 14 or so hull clumped together we should really look into merging the hulls into one so we can start recycling some of the redundant systems.