One of best rocket fuel combinations for Mars is actually carbon monoxide and oxygen made directly from the Martian atmosphere using a solar or nuclear heat source. It gives an exhaust velocity of about 2700m/s (about the same as an old Saturn F1 at sea level) which is good enough for a rocket to reach orbit given the much lower Martian gravity and orbital velocity. It also makes it possible for an exploration team to hop repeatedly around Mars looking at different spots refuelling between hops. The overall mass saving could be a huge win for any effort to put people on Mars.
I can't see much point to Silane unless you are trying to make an aircraft - which is very challenging given lack of runways and low atmospheric pressure. 30km/100000ft equivalent altitude is higher than any existing aircraft can fly. Silane also requires hydrogen to make (apart from silicon) that is only available in trace quantities in the Martian atmosphere (.03% Water) On 23 April 2012 20:30, Hoyt A. Stearns Jr. <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > The Martians may not take kindly to that. > > Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house: > > http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/04images/Mars4/Structures/Diamond_001b.png > > Other bizarrities: > > http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Mars_Images_26.html > http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Mars_Images.html > > http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Mars_Other_02.html > > > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* Jones Beene [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Monday, April 23, 2012 7:10 AM > > > > ... The main one is silane – which is a molecule like methane but with > silicon at the core instead of carbon. Robert Zurbin suggest this in “The > Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must” and NASA > has picked up on it, so I guess it is accurate.**** > > ** ** > > http://www.amazon.com/The-Case-Mars-Settle-Planet/dp/0684835509**** > > ** ** > > The atmosphere of Mars is mostly of carbon dioxide 95+%.**** > > ** ** >
