Chemical approaches to carbon dioxide utilization for manned Mars missions

Utilization of resources available in situ is a critical enabling technology for permanent human presence in space. A permanent presence on Mars, for example, requires a tremendous infrastructure to sustain life under hostile conditions (low oxygen, partial pressure, ultraviolet radiation, low temperature, etc.). There are numerous studies on the most accessible of Martian resources: atmospheric carbon dioxide. As a resource on Mars, atmospheric CO2 is: (1) abundant; (2) available at all points on the surface; (3) of known presence, requiring no precursor mission to verify; (4) chemically simple; and (5) can be obtained by simple compression, with no requirements of mining or beneficiation equipment operation. Several novel proposals are presented for CO2 fixation through chemical, photochemical, and photoelectrochemical means.