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Options for making rocket fuel using the Moon's natural resources

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Options for making rocket fuel using the Moon's natural resources

How feasible is it to use aluminum and liquid oxygen as future propellant sourced from the moon?How was reserve fuel calculated for the Apollo missions?Are there relevant resources on the Moon for civil engineering?What does “self-pressurizing” mean in regards to propellant tanks?How much mass could the Saturn V rockets have landed on the Moon if nothing was coming back?Which heavenly bodies have stuff to make rocket fuel?What is required to produce rocket quality methane fuel and oxygen from Mars' atmosphere?Do any realistic rocket systems use different substances for propellant and fuel?Earth-based microwave radiometer for the MoonShape and dimensions of the Moon's reference surface for selenographic latitude/longitude?Where on Mars did the largest river once flow?

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Based on what is known about the chemistry of the lunar surface through remote sensing and surface exploration, what raw ingredients are likely to be available that can be used to make rocket fuel?

mars the-moon fuel chemistry

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edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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  $begingroup$
  The title mentions Mars, but the question as such just asks about rocket fuel in general.
  $endgroup$
  – Steve Linton
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  If there is water ice in deep craters close to the Moon poles, liquid hydrogen and oxygen may be generated from water needing a lot of energy. But to get a storable hypergolic fuel like hydrazin and nitrogentetroxid you need nitrogen too.
  $endgroup$
  – Uwe
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

Based on what is known about the chemistry of the lunar surface through remote sensing and surface exploration, what raw ingredients are likely to be available that can be used to make rocket fuel?

mars the-moon fuel chemistry

share|improve this question

edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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asked 8 hours ago

Bob BaileyBob Bailey

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New contributor

Bob Bailey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  The title mentions Mars, but the question as such just asks about rocket fuel in general.
  $endgroup$
  – Steve Linton
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  If there is water ice in deep craters close to the Moon poles, liquid hydrogen and oxygen may be generated from water needing a lot of energy. But to get a storable hypergolic fuel like hydrazin and nitrogentetroxid you need nitrogen too.
  $endgroup$
  – Uwe
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Based on what is known about the chemistry of the lunar surface through remote sensing and surface exploration, what raw ingredients are likely to be available that can be used to make rocket fuel?

mars the-moon fuel chemistry

share|improve this question

edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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asked 8 hours ago

Bob BaileyBob Bailey

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share|improve this question

edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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Bob BaileyBob Bailey

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edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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edited 7 hours ago

uhoh

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asked 8 hours ago

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Bob BaileyBob Bailey

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2 Answers
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There are a number of rocket fuels that can be made from moon rock, discussed in some depth in this answer and the linked papers. None is as good as "normal" fuels like kerosene and liquid oxygen, and there are some engineering problems, but they are possible.

There is recent evidence of water (probably in the form of slightly less dessicated, but still thoroughly frozen rocks) at the South pole of the moon, where there are craters in permanent shadow. If that can be extracted, then liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen can be prepared.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

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$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  This answer could be improved by mentioning aluminum and liquid oxygen. As currently written, one must follow the link to discover that.
  $endgroup$
  – DrSheldon
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

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The lunar regolith contains over 40 weight % of oxygen, but the rest of metals and silicon is not well suited to make a fuel. Only very, very few carbon or hydrogen, less than 1 %. Without finding water it is not possible to prepare a good fuel.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

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add a comment | 

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2

$begingroup$

There are a number of rocket fuels that can be made from moon rock, discussed in some depth in this answer and the linked papers. None is as good as "normal" fuels like kerosene and liquid oxygen, and there are some engineering problems, but they are possible.

There is recent evidence of water (probably in the form of slightly less dessicated, but still thoroughly frozen rocks) at the South pole of the moon, where there are craters in permanent shadow. If that can be extracted, then liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen can be prepared.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

10k11 gold badge2626 silver badges5353 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  This answer could be improved by mentioning aluminum and liquid oxygen. As currently written, one must follow the link to discover that.
  $endgroup$
  – DrSheldon
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

There are a number of rocket fuels that can be made from moon rock, discussed in some depth in this answer and the linked papers. None is as good as "normal" fuels like kerosene and liquid oxygen, and there are some engineering problems, but they are possible.

There is recent evidence of water (probably in the form of slightly less dessicated, but still thoroughly frozen rocks) at the South pole of the moon, where there are craters in permanent shadow. If that can be extracted, then liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen can be prepared.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

10k11 gold badge2626 silver badges5353 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  This answer could be improved by mentioning aluminum and liquid oxygen. As currently written, one must follow the link to discover that.
  $endgroup$
  – DrSheldon
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

There are a number of rocket fuels that can be made from moon rock, discussed in some depth in this answer and the linked papers. None is as good as "normal" fuels like kerosene and liquid oxygen, and there are some engineering problems, but they are possible.

There is recent evidence of water (probably in the form of slightly less dessicated, but still thoroughly frozen rocks) at the South pole of the moon, where there are craters in permanent shadow. If that can be extracted, then liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen can be prepared.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

10k11 gold badge2626 silver badges5353 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

10k11 gold badge2626 silver badges5353 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

10k11 gold badge2626 silver badges5353 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

Steve LintonSteve Linton

10k11 gold badge2626 silver badges5353 bronze badges

2

$begingroup$

The lunar regolith contains over 40 weight % of oxygen, but the rest of metals and silicon is not well suited to make a fuel. Only very, very few carbon or hydrogen, less than 1 %. Without finding water it is not possible to prepare a good fuel.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

12.9k22 gold badges3434 silver badges6060 bronze badges

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

The lunar regolith contains over 40 weight % of oxygen, but the rest of metals and silicon is not well suited to make a fuel. Only very, very few carbon or hydrogen, less than 1 %. Without finding water it is not possible to prepare a good fuel.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

12.9k22 gold badges3434 silver badges6060 bronze badges

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

The lunar regolith contains over 40 weight % of oxygen, but the rest of metals and silicon is not well suited to make a fuel. Only very, very few carbon or hydrogen, less than 1 %. Without finding water it is not possible to prepare a good fuel.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

12.9k22 gold badges3434 silver badges6060 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

12.9k22 gold badges3434 silver badges6060 bronze badges

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

12.9k22 gold badges3434 silver badges6060 bronze badges

answered 7 hours ago

UweUwe

12.9k22 gold badges3434 silver badges6060 bronze badges