WKTaylor
Well-known member
- Sep 24, 2001
- 4,094
Native Water [Moon, Mars, etc] = abundant Oxygen & Hydrogen... but where will adequate NITROGEN and CARBON come from?!?
I get the fact that H2O ‘water’ in any form [vapor, ice, liquid] can be easily disassociated to become Hydrogen and Oxygen... for BASICS of life [breathing oxygen and water]... and for liquid fuel propellants [O2+H2]. Electrical power from solar or nuclear or 'fuel cell' technologies is readily available. HOWEVER, as I see it all-around-me, LIFE sustainment and many other essential functions, also crave/need its share of NITROGEN and CARBON for a host of secondary, very important, functions... inert and active chemistry.
Early spacecraft operated at reduced cabin pressure = partial pressure of pure oxygen of ~4-to-5-PSI... to minimize need for liquid gas consumables, be ‘non-toxic’, to reduce the fire/explosion potential and obviously reduce vehicle mass due to reduced structural weigh operating at low pressurization loads. However, modern spacecraft that have long-duration crews... add ~50% nitrogen to attain a higher total pressure atmosphere that is far more comfortable/sustainable for crews.
For instance, the reason Apollo 13 spacecraft became so abusively ‘cold’ to the astronauts [after heaters were shut-off to conserve energy] was the inability to maintain body heat with so low an atmospheric pressure [oxygen molecules, ~4.5-PSI] and the relatively light weight/porous clothing provided.
Likewise plants and animals have an intrinsic need for nitrogen and carbon for chemical growth [along with a host of other lesser chemicals common to earth soils]. As I understand farming, nitrogen and carbon are essential to promote plant growth... hence provide ‘food’ for animal life. Space station atmosphere provides 'stealth' nitrogen to its 'new' hydroponic plants for growth.
SO... Where is the necessary abundance of Nitrogen and Carbon to support ‘human life’ to be found ‘FAR AWAY from Earth... like the moon and Mars? I Have NEVER heard this discussion in space exploration circles... what am I missing?
Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]
I get the fact that H2O ‘water’ in any form [vapor, ice, liquid] can be easily disassociated to become Hydrogen and Oxygen... for BASICS of life [breathing oxygen and water]... and for liquid fuel propellants [O2+H2]. Electrical power from solar or nuclear or 'fuel cell' technologies is readily available. HOWEVER, as I see it all-around-me, LIFE sustainment and many other essential functions, also crave/need its share of NITROGEN and CARBON for a host of secondary, very important, functions... inert and active chemistry.
Early spacecraft operated at reduced cabin pressure = partial pressure of pure oxygen of ~4-to-5-PSI... to minimize need for liquid gas consumables, be ‘non-toxic’, to reduce the fire/explosion potential and obviously reduce vehicle mass due to reduced structural weigh operating at low pressurization loads. However, modern spacecraft that have long-duration crews... add ~50% nitrogen to attain a higher total pressure atmosphere that is far more comfortable/sustainable for crews.
For instance, the reason Apollo 13 spacecraft became so abusively ‘cold’ to the astronauts [after heaters were shut-off to conserve energy] was the inability to maintain body heat with so low an atmospheric pressure [oxygen molecules, ~4.5-PSI] and the relatively light weight/porous clothing provided.
Likewise plants and animals have an intrinsic need for nitrogen and carbon for chemical growth [along with a host of other lesser chemicals common to earth soils]. As I understand farming, nitrogen and carbon are essential to promote plant growth... hence provide ‘food’ for animal life. Space station atmosphere provides 'stealth' nitrogen to its 'new' hydroponic plants for growth.
SO... Where is the necessary abundance of Nitrogen and Carbon to support ‘human life’ to be found ‘FAR AWAY from Earth... like the moon and Mars? I Have NEVER heard this discussion in space exploration circles... what am I missing?
Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]