Bipolar Mars Terraform Plan

Void · 2026-01-06 06:05:12

Continuing with the materials of the previous pos:

The wheels "Mouth" of the device do spinnies on the dirt of a world like Phobos. They can also be steered to help spin the device; I guess.

But what grabs me now is the possible composition of the dust of Phobos.

Quote:

C-type rock
Phobos, the innermost moon of Mars, is primarily composed of C-type rock, similar to blackish carbonaceous chondrite asteroids. It appears to be covered with a layer of fine dust and fine-grained regolith, which is likely created by impacts from other bodies. The surface of Phobos has been heavily cratered and is characterized by a low density, suggesting a mixture of rock and possibly ice.

So without as much optimism if we presume some Carbon and some Oxidized Metals, we are quite close to what Starship needs for filling.

If it is presumed that Hydrogen has to come from the surface of Mars, but Photos does have Carbon and Oxygen, so math may help to understand.

In Starship the weight of Oxygen/Methane is about ~3.6/1

What is the weight of Carbon and Hydrogen?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon
Quote:

Standard atomic weight Ar°(C)
[12.0096, 12.0116][1]
12.011±0.002 (abridged)[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen
Quote:

Standard atomic weight Ar°(H)
[1.00784, 1.00811][1]
1.0080±0.0002 (abridged)[2]

So with math made crude, can I think that in CH4, the Carbon has 12 of the total weight and the four Hydrogens have 4 of the total weight of a Methane molecule?

So, by lifting Hydrogen from Mars, we are lifting the minority of the weight of the fuel which is the minority of the propellants for Starship?

Oxygen/Methane = 3.6/1
Carbon/Hydrogen = 12/4

So a process of refilling from Phobos may be very useful for Starship.

The Stoke Space 2nd Stage may be very useful to lift Hydrogen from the surface of Mars to assist this process to support Starship.

*If there is both Carbon and Oxygen and no Hydrogen in Phobos, it might be useful to have a Oxygen/Co2 propulsion system to use in orbit of Mars. Perhaps the Dust Eater could use it to maneuver.

But this looks pretty hopeful, if Carbon is included in the dust of Phobos, and perhaps also Deimos.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-01-06 06:25:31)

Void · 2026-01-06 11:27:55

So this device is beginning to look like a top: https://fity.club/lists/suggestions/Spinning-Top-Gif/
Image Quote:

We need to keep in mind that the gravity of Phobos and Deimos is rather low.

If it is possible to use the wheeled mouth method to draw dust into this spinning device. If the bottom is too pointy and sinks in too much then it can be broadened out.

While dust will not naturally cling to all inner surfaces of the device, we can make slag bricks and put them into bags and fasten them to the inner surfaces, to create radiation protection.

I suppose it might even be possible to embed a Standford torus inside of the "Top".

It could be possible but perhaps not sensible. But the "Top" dust eater is, I think a real possibility.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-01-06 11:54:00)

Void · 2026-01-06 12:17:44

OK, I have this which may be more practical:

You get portions of the top filled with dust, and then you back away from Phobos and then you embed your crew compartments in the dirt.

You may have some synthetic gravity, and you may have sufficient radiation protection. You may start processing the dirt, into various things.

The majority of the "Top" could be of fabrics, with some "Boning" added.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-01-06 12:20:03)

Void · Yesterday 10:58:47

I want to briefly better define the direction of this.

I am being optimistic about Carbon on one or two of the Marian moon. So, then I am hoping that for orbits of Mars, it may be possible to use CO and O2 combustion for propulsion.

Although it might be possible to spin up the tops with friction on Phobos or Deimos, I am moving towards a parent device that would spin the tops up with rotating magnetic fields. So then the tops will become flywheels that store energy.

The parent devices might be powered in part with CO/O2 combustion, but for orbital position, and spin, other means may be available. Perhaps Magdrive or Neumann Drive, perhaps an Oxygen mass driver that ejects Oxygen ice cubes.

So, these spinning tops would need a means to dip down to a small world like Phobos or Deimos, and gather some surface materials.

Then we need a means to rise back up to the parent devices.

We also have a need for a means to transfer the collected "Ore" from the "Flywheel-Tops"< and to the parent devices in Mars orbits.

The tops can also have electric systems in them including an energy source and perhaps batteries.

Some kind of thrusters sufficient for the linear path "Up and Down">

I would prefer to avoid use of combustion propellants, but do not exclude their use.

The parent devices would probably come in pairs, linked to each other so they would not continually build up more and more spin when the would push spin energy into the "Flywheel-Tops".

So, ideally this apparatus can at least partially refill various types of Spacecrafts with propellants.

Again, it may be needed to obtain Hydrogen from Mars itself.

Using mirrors in the orbits of Mars, the energy for this purpose should be relabel from solar energy, unlike the surface of Mars.

So, refilling ships in orbit may be better than to do so on the surface of Mars. Although you will still want some refilling method on the surface of Mars.

A ship intending to go to Earth/Moon or the Asteroid belt would only need to rise up to orbit and be refilled there, so the refilling on the surface of Mars could be a "Small Partial" refilling.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (Yesterday 11:12:30)

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#26 2026-01-06 06:05:12

Re: Bipolar Mars Terraform Plan

#27 2026-01-06 11:27:55

Re: Bipolar Mars Terraform Plan

#28 2026-01-06 12:17:44

Re: Bipolar Mars Terraform Plan

#29 Yesterday 10:58:47

Re: Bipolar Mars Terraform Plan

Board footer