4 ms·
Mars is red because metals in mars are oxidized (iron regolith). Removing that oxidation requires energy. Just as on earth, most valuable metals are likely deep
by Nokinside 8y ago
Mars is red because metals in mars are oxidized (iron regolith). Removing that oxidation requires energy. Just as on earth, most valuable metals are likely deep under surface.
Metals on asteroids are easier to extract. Some asteroids, like 16 Psyche are almost solid chunks of metal.
Asteroid ice (oxygen and hydrogen) can be turned into rocket fuel with electricity from solar panels.
Single asteroid close to the Earth can supply all the needs on earth for centuries.
- nickparker 8y agoOnly the very surface is red[0]. Martian crust is fairly normal rock underneath as I understand it. 16 psyche is one of the 10 most massive objects in the belt. The belt is more than twice as far away, and transfers to it are much more variable over the years than the fairly regular Mars windows. Finding the “Goldilocks” object that supplies all our needs, can be regularly reached economically, etc etc isn’t an easy problem. Also, water gets you hydralox propellant, which is a bit of a pain in the ass. You really want organic compounds too so you can do methalox, which is one more constraint on Goldilocks. [0] https://m.phys.org/news/2013-05-curiosity-mars-rover-drills.html https://m.phys.org/news/2013-05-curiosity-mars-rover-drills....