Building New Albion

How New Albion is constructed.

Video caption text
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[Foreboding orchestral music]
[Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
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[Music]
[Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance (Land of Hope and Glory)]
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This is New Albion on Mars
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New Albion is a series of parallel linear habitats,
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or "Ways", built on the floor of an opencast mine.
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Each Way is about 10 kilometres long,
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an arch in section about 20 metres wide internally and
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20 metres high along the centre line.
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The arch walls are internally insulated and airtight.
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The arches are covered externally with mining spoil
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for insulation (both heat and radiation) and
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for added protection against impacts.
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A Way is divided into compartments at 500 metre intervals
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by airtight doors which are normally open.
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Neighbouring Ways are connected by service doors which
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are normally sealed, but which can be opened for maintenance.
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The Ways are built on a gentle slope to aid drainage and air circulation.
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Air, water, power and drainage ducts also connect the Ways,
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each of which can be individually sealed if required.
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At the lower and upper end of each Way are normally-sealed
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doors to industrial compartments.
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These industrial compartments also offer access to the surface of Mars.
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A New Albion Way has much in common with a very large submarine!
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[Dissonant clashing orchestral music]
[Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
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[orchestral music continues]