It’s just a matter of time until astronomers will colonize Mars, but it’s naïve to believe that it will happen in the near future. The first humans will land on the Red Planet if the Artemis program of NASA will unfold as planned, meaning not sooner than 2024.
According to a new study led by Vijay Ramani, who is a chemical engineer at Washington University in St. Louis, the lucky astronomers who will be able of colonizing Mars will also get the chance of generating fuel and oxygen from the Red Planet’s saltwater.
Oxygen and fuel needed by future colonists
Fuels such as hydrogen gas are needed to power the equipment of future colonists. Furthermore, oxygen and hydrogen can be obtained by breaking water down using electricity and other methods.
Ramani declared:
Mars is a long way out there, and we are limited in the amount of stuff we can bring with us, so if we can utilize resources already present there, that’s more economical and more viable than having to lug everything with us,
Brines that contain water and perchlorates could remain liquid even at very low temperatures found on Mars. Ramani and the other scientists wanted to see if they can split water molecules to form hydrogen and oxygen with a technique known as electrolysis and by using electricity.
Referring to oxygen and hydrogen, Ramani also declared:
Future missions don’t necessarily have to carry those components to Mars, but make them in situ with technology such as ours.
Ramani also admits that several technologies are needed when it comes to exploring space or the surface of the Moon or Mars.
From all the cosmic objects from our Solar System besides Earth, the Red Planet is easily the best candidate for hosting any life forms.
The new findings were detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: space.com
