Re: Titan, the interplanetary gas station - In-Situ Propellants

a425couple <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 7/11/26 15:59, Jeremiah Jones wrote:
> > a425couple <[email protected]> wrote:
> > 
> >> Titan's water could provide oxygen for breathing and hydrogen as fuel.
> >> Hydrocarbons, such as methane, would serve to produce energy or
> >> plastics. This approach would significantly reduce the mass to be
> >> launched from Earth, making missions more economical.
> > 
> > You seem to think there's free energy available there.  You
> > need O2 to oxidize the methane.  So you have to separate water
> > into hydrogen and oxygen to make O2.
> > 
> > Add up the bonding energies.  I think you will find it takes
> > more energy to make the O2 than you can get out of the
> > oxidation.
> > 
> > As far as using hydrogen for fuel, we don't even need to do
> > any pencil work.  You're turning water into water and hoping
> > for excess energy.  Not happening.
> > 
> > Now if you have an energy source on Titan, you can make
> > portable fuel.  Solar is out as the sun is too dim.  The best
> > you could do is bring a nuclear RTG generator from Earth.
> > 
> > Sorry to rain on your scifi parade.
> 
> If you are saying "it is not easy." - I will agree.

My point is that you think there is fuel on Titan
ready to pump 'n fly.  There is not.  You have to make
your own fuel, like you would on the moon or Mars,
just with different chemistry.

Wishful thinking is not a substitute for science.


> But these people are certainly saying it seems
> worthwhile to explore: