October 1, 2003

George William Herbert wrote:

Sander Vesik wrote:
In situ resources? Hahahahaha. And just how were you planning to test it
works?

Have you read Zubrin's books or refereed publications on Mars Direct?

A test program including both subscale tests and then sending an
unmanned return vehicle 2 years ahead of the crew, to manufacture
its return fuel before the crew leave Earth, are both planned.
If the first return vehicle fails to successfully manufacture its
return fuel for any reason, you don't send the crew until the
second ERV has landed and manufactured *its* fuel, etc.

Since we now definitely know that Mars is basically a frozen muddy glacial
ice ball just a few meters below the surface (to a depth of several
kilometers), and that Mars is only dry and desiccated in the top few meters
of soil, then the whole in situ fuel manufacturing scenario suddenly becomes
considerably more plausible.

Thomas Lee Elifritz
http://elifritz.members.atlantic.net/mars.htm