This chapter presents methods by which materials found on Mars can be turned into useful resources. The development of Mars can be viewed as consisting of three phases, exploration, base building, and settlement, each with its own resource development priorities. In the exploration phase, propellants and consumables are of primary interest. In the base-building phase, the production of structural materials, including steel, plastics, ceramics, bricks, fabrics, and glass becomes important. In the settlement phase the full range of industries are of interest, including especially energy production. We discuss each of these phases and the relevant chemical engineering processes to meet their needs. The material inventory of Mars readily lends itself to technologies supporting the development of each phase. In the exploration phase, CO2 and water are the primary local materials of interest, providing the basis for the production of fuel, oxygen and food. In the base-building phase, interest expands to include making use of plentiful Martian crustal materials, especially iron oxide and silicon dioxide, enabling production of structures, including habitations and greenhouses. In the settlement phase, all materials are of interest, notably including deuterium, which is five times as plentiful on Mars as it is on Earth, and which could provide an abundant energy resource to power a growing Martian civilization.
Local Resource Creation on Mars
Handbook of Space Resources ; Kapitel : 19 ; 669-687
2023-04-28
19 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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