Methane Blast, If you are going to fuel a rocket from Titan... |
Methane Blast, If you are going to fuel a rocket from Titan... |
May 4 2007, 09:53 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 428 Joined: 21-August 06 From: Northern Virginia Member No.: 1062 |
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/04....htm?list837920
Could be useful for the return trip from Titan, if anyone wants to take a shot at it. |
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May 4 2007, 11:02 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2785 Joined: 10-November 06 From: Pasadena, CA Member No.: 1345 |
“Imagine, a methane-powered rocket could allow a robotic probe to land on the surface of Titan, gather geological samples, refill its tanks, and blast off to return those samples to Earth. Such a sample-return mission from the outer solar system has never been attempted.”
I like it. http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...ost&p=86105 -------------------- Some higher resolution images available at my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31678681@N07/
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May 5 2007, 05:15 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 910 Joined: 4-September 06 From: Boston Member No.: 1102 |
Methane is only half the fuel. The other is liquid oxygen. So you would still have to bring LOX or make it from splitting water (which takes energy). Still, it is better to have half your rocket fuel readily available than none (visiting a rocky planet with no atmosphere). Look at the situation as a glass (rocket) half full.
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May 5 2007, 05:26 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 29-November 05 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 590 |
Sadly, the oxygen is 80% of the mass.
Given this reaction: CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H2O One mole of CH4 weighs 12+4=16 grams, and 2 moles of O2 weighs 2x16x2 = 64 grams, so the Oxygen is 64 out of a total of 80 grams, or 80%. On the other hand, if you can make oxygen in sitiu, this is a really attractive proposition. --Greg |
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May 7 2007, 03:37 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 428 Joined: 21-August 06 From: Northern Virginia Member No.: 1062 |
I would imagine that it's possible to make O2 in situ, especially if you can find water ice. But the problem comes, where can you find water ice and methane in the same area? That's quite a bit more of a challenge...
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May 7 2007, 04:09 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
It seems (to me) that finding water ice and methane on Titan would be
as easy as finding rocks and water (respectively) on Earth. |
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