China Makes Progress in Power Generation & Storage for Mars Infrastructure
Chinese scientists have made progress in power generation and storage on Mars in terms of how to effectively use resources there to ensure the energy supply for conducting long-term research and stationing researchers on the planet in the future.
Experts have pointed out that in the future, leveraging gases on Mars for energy and resource utilization, including power generation, energy storage, heating, oxygen production, and fuel production, could enable the development of an integrated energy system utilizing the atmospheric environment of Mars.
For example, the average temperature on the surface of Mars is approximately minus 63 degrees Celsius. The waste heat from the low-temperature range of a power generation system could address the thermal energy supply at research stations on Mars.
Additionally, the mid-temperature and high-temperature ranges of Martian gases can respectively serve as reaction gases for methane production and high-temperature electrolysis for oxygen production. This process transforms the abundant carbon and oxygen atoms in Martian gases into valuable resources, such as oxygen and methane fuel essential for exploration missions.
"To conduct research on Mars, we need a multitude of detection equipment, and research stations to be set up. These research stations and detection equipment rely on energy as a fundamental guarantee. When considering setting up an energy system on Mars, we need to devise solutions in line with local conditions. This research marks a new starting point. It can be said that there is still a long way to go," said Shi Lingfeng, a researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China.
Duration: 2 minutes 34 seconds
Release Date: June 7, 2025
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