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Mining the air - Resources of other worlds may reduce mission costsIt is proposed that the mining of resources on another planet to support operations there and also to provide a means for the return trip to earth provides a less expensive way to send humans beyond low earth orbit to live on the moon and to explore Mars. Since a large fraction of any chemical propellant combination is the oxidizer that burns with the fuel to generate the rocket jet, and for life support, the generation of oxygen from any of its atmospheric or mineral compounds is a valuable capability. Such materials include the lunar minerals ilmenite and anorthite, Martian permafrost, water ice at the Martian poles, and atmospheric carbon dioxide on Mars. The possibilities of developing such technologies are discussed and the prospects of developing building materials for such facilities from local resources are considered. The role of the Space Engineering Research Center at the University of Arizona in exploring the use of local planetary resources is noted.
Document ID
19910041210
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ramohalli, Kumar
(NASA Space Engineering Research Center for Utilization of Local Planetary Resources; Arizona, University Tucson, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary Report
Volume: 11
ISSN: 0736-3680
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
91A25833
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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