What strategic product, essential for return journeys, is generated by splitting subsurface water ice via electrolysis?
Answer
LOX/LH2 (Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Hydrogen) rocket propellant
Water ice, the most vital resource identified on Mars, serves dual purposes. For immediate survival, it is used for drinking, sanitation, and agriculture. Strategically, it can be separated through electrolysis into its constituent elements: hydrogen and oxygen. While oxygen is breathable, the combination of hydrogen and oxygen forms the primary components of powerful rocket propellant, specifically known as LOX/LH2. Having the capability to manufacture this fuel on Mars significantly reduces the logistical burden of sending crewed return vehicles back to Earth.
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