What process allows water ice extracted from icy asteroids to produce primary components of rocket fuel?

Answer

Cracking it into hydrogen and oxygen

Water ice, easily accessible in certain primitive, icy asteroids, represents a critical local resource for sustainability and export. The key to unlocking its value as rocket propellant lies in a chemical process known as cracking. When water (H2O) is cracked, it separates into its elemental components: hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). These two gases constitute the primary components of high-energy chemical rocket fuel. Beyond propulsion, having a local source for hydrogen and oxygen is also vital for life support, as oxygen is needed for breathing air, making the cracking process central to achieving logistical viability through in situ resource utilization (ISRU).

What process allows water ice extracted from icy asteroids to produce primary components of rocket fuel?

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