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Post Closed as "Opinion-based" by GdD, ForgeMonkey, Vedant Chandra, PearsonArtPhoto♦
This has nothing to do with the "Mars One" project (Zubrin's propasal alluded to is called "Mars Direct"), so I retagged with tags that seem most relevant to the question. Also made a few orthographic improvements.
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TildalWave
TildalWave
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BobRobert Zubrin makes a compelling case for using Marsusing Mars as a site to make methane fuel for the return trip back to Earth. HoweverHowever, maybe there is an additional refinement to this model. Inmodel;

In addition to the landers and habitats to be shipped to Mars, I would like to suggest that a 'tanker' vehicle be left in Mars orbit. AsAs each batch of Methane is completed on Mars'Martian surface that, it is shuttled up and transferred to the 'tanker' vehicle. ThisThis tanker vehicle should be large enough to contain enough fuel not only for the return trip to Earth, but also for the return trip to Mars. Earth

Earth can then restrict its activities to providing the Hydrogen feed stock for further Methane production (back on Mars) and for the supply of manufactured goods. DoesDoes all this make any sense?

Bob Zubrin makes a compelling case for using Mars as a site to make methane fuel for the return trip back to Earth. However, maybe there is an additional refinement to this model. In addition to the landers and habitats to be shipped to Mars I would like to suggest that a 'tanker' vehicle be left in Mars orbit. As each batch of Methane is completed on Mars' surface that it is shuttled up and transferred to the 'tanker' vehicle. This tanker vehicle should be large enough to contain enough fuel not only for the return to Earth but also for the return trip to Mars. Earth can then restrict its activities to providing the Hydrogen feed stock for further Methane production (back on Mars) and for the supply of manufactured goods. Does all this make any sense?

Robert Zubrin makes a compelling case for using Mars as a site to make methane fuel for the return trip back to Earth. However, maybe there is an additional refinement to this model;

In addition to the landers and habitats to be shipped to Mars, I would like to suggest that a 'tanker' vehicle be left in Mars orbit. As each batch of Methane is completed on Martian surface, it is shuttled up and transferred to the 'tanker' vehicle. This tanker vehicle should be large enough to contain enough fuel not only for the return trip to Earth, but also for the return trip to Mars.

Earth can then restrict its activities to providing the Hydrogen feed stock for further Methane production (back on Mars) and for the supply of manufactured goods. Does all this make any sense?

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Joe Prosser
Joe Prosser
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Should we use Mars as the main source of interplanetary fuel?

Bob Zubrin makes a compelling case for using Mars as a site to make methane fuel for the return trip back to Earth. However, maybe there is an additional refinement to this model. In addition to the landers and habitats to be shipped to Mars I would like to suggest that a 'tanker' vehicle be left in Mars orbit. As each batch of Methane is completed on Mars' surface that it is shuttled up and transferred to the 'tanker' vehicle. This tanker vehicle should be large enough to contain enough fuel not only for the return to Earth but also for the return trip to Mars. Earth can then restrict its activities to providing the Hydrogen feed stock for further Methane production (back on Mars) and for the supply of manufactured goods. Does all this make any sense?