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ok so you get to mars, right? but getting back is important too. This is how it might be done. (this is to return some mars dirt to earth. not people.)
OK. there are 1 or 2 or 3 landers. Their contents are: Solar panels (as many as possible), for power & battery charging. A small exploratory rover (only has camera and spectroscopher and rock/dust holding area). Main job local rock collection. smelter type thing. Turns Fe(III)O (common on mars) into Fe. Fe used to build spaceship. possiblywrought iron. Carbon from CO2 in atmos. Coated w/ graphite or other compound to reduce damage in building time. Air seperator & compound maker (specifically fuel & iron covering) makes fuel. Hydrazine, H2O2, or other monopropellant due to simplicity. Engine for rocket, b/c cant be built on mars. Solid CO2 to pus fuel towards nozzle. freezer to keep cold while in storage. Freezer for fuel if needed. can bring back up to 5-10 kgs w/ a ~15 ft rocket. When in space, or suborbit, attaches w/ orbiting satellite. Orbiting satellite brings to HEO, brought down by best current method.
-Josh
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I voted no, but perhaps that deserves some clarification. Yes it is possible, no it not a viable option. Have you estimated the size, weight, and cost of the machinery you'd have to send to build your crude iron ERV, and compared that to the cost of building and launching from Earth a lightweight carbon-fiber ERV? Not even mentioning mission risk and crew comforts.
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but please try to keep a critical eye.
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Mars Direct (for people) and many Mars Sample Return missions (for dirt) have proposed using the Sabatier Reaction to make methane (natural gas) for fuel from Mars' CO2 atmosphere.
Since the fuel for Earth return has a higher mass than the Earth Return Vehicle, this is the easiest way to save mass.
Unfortunately, the multiple processes required to turn iron ore (and lots of other things) into a rocket are a long way from being made low mass enough for them to be shipped to Mars.
Fan of [url=http://www.red-oasis.com/]Red Oasis[/url]
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This sounds like a bad idea
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