Feasibility Study For Hydrogen Producing Colony on Mars

TL;DR

This study explores the feasibility of establishing a Martian colony capable of producing and transporting large quantities of liquid hydrogen to Low Earth Orbit, supporting solar system colonization efforts.

Contribution

It presents a detailed energy analysis and logistical plan for hydrogen production and delivery from Mars, Moon, and asteroids to enable sustainable space colonization.

Findings

Mars can produce 1 million tons of hydrogen annually.

Energy cost for hydrogen production on Mars is 1.4 GJ per kg.

Transporting payloads from LEO to Mars requires 3.5 GJ per kg.

Abstract

A technologically mature colony on Mars can produce and deliver at least 1 million tons of liquid hydrogen per year to one or more propellant depots at Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Production of 1 $kg$ of hydrogen at Marian colony and its delivery to LEO requires an energy expenditure of 1.4 $GJ$ on Mars. LEO propellant depot contains hydrogen produced on Mars and oxygen produced on the Moon or near-Earth asteroids. This propellant is used to deliver payload from LEO to many destinations in the Solar System including Mars. Delivery of 1 $kg$ payload from LEO to Mars requires an energy expenditure of 3.5 $GJ$ on Mars, Moon, and near-Earth asteroids. The use of liquid hydrogen produced on Mars to deliver astronauts and payload to Mars ensures exponential bootstrap growth of the Martian colony. Martian Colony and delivery of millions of tons of liquid hydrogen to LEO is the key to Colonization of Solar System. %% Martian Colony starts transporting liquid hydrogen to LEO only after it grows to significant size. It should contain about 20 million tons of steel and 3 million tons of plastic in structures and material as well as several thousand astronauts. Prior to that time, LEO hydrogen deposit will be supplied by hydrogen from Lunar poles.