Stoichiometry Question
NASA’s long term plans for sending astronauts to Mars involves an “ISRU” strategy. ISRU is in-situ resource utilization and means that to the extent possible, chemical resources already on Mars will be utilized. The Martian atmosphere contains about 95.3% carbon dioxide. According to one NASA plan, hydrogen will be sent to Mars from Earth before astronaut crews arrive. Fuel for the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) will consist of methane-oxygen combustion: CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O. The fuel and oxygen will be made by the following reactions:
CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + 2H2O (the Sabatier reaction)
And 2H2O 2H2 + O2 (the electrolysis of water)
Energy to run these latter reactions will come perhaps from Plutonium power sources or solar cells. Making use of the above reactions, calculate the minimum mass of hydrogen that will have to be sent from Earth to Mars in order to produce 500 kg of methane and the necessary oxygen to combust it.