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Methane can be generated on Mars using the Sabatier reaction to refuel for the trip home. Methane should help re-usability as there will be less soot on the eng
by shirro 10y ago
Methane can be generated on Mars using the Sabatier reaction to refuel for the trip home. Methane should help re-usability as there will be less soot on the engines. Methane can self-pressurize and SpaceX has lost two rockets in 14 months due to suspected problems related to their helium pressurisation system.
- iamcreasy 10y agoWhat does it mean by "Methane can self-pressurize"?
- shirro 10y agoI wish I knew for sure. It is just something I read. Rockets need to maintain the pressure in the tanks as fuel is depleted. Most fuels will not vaporize fast enough as they are used. Helium seems to be the best option but hard to obtain on Mars. I guess nitrogen is another choice but it is less than 2% of a very thin Mars atmosphere. I am not sure if methane will do the job by itself or if you might need to heat some up.