Production of Artificial Liquid Hydrogen on Mars for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Abstract

Besides being a renewable fuel, liquid hydrogen would potentiate nuclear thermal propulsion systems on missions to Mars. However, using liquid hydrogen requires carrying large tanks on space trips, which is challenging since rockets have a limited volume available and space related travel costs are mass related, with increased costs for increasing mass. Therefore, producing liquid hydrogen on Mars becomes fundamental for missions back to Earth. Previous research has primarily relied on producing Martian carbon dioxide fuel, however, a pioneer system of artificial liquid hydrogen production on Mars was studied to feasibly make trips to the red planet and lower the costs of space missions. The system involves extracting water from Martian artificial glaciers to produce artificial hydrogen through water electrolysis. Analyzing the system under Martian conditions proved that the model could theoretically be deployed on Mars. With theoretical and practical research, it will be possible to build a safe, effective, and realistic system of artificial liquid hydrogen production on Mars for nuclear thermal propulsion.