Hydrogen economy key to a sustainable Martian colony

Abstract

Developing a hydrogen-based economy on Mars presents a transformative opportunity to achieve a self-sustaining human colony, reducing reliance on Earth-based resources. Given Mars' CO₂-rich atmosphere and water ice deposits, hydrogen can serve as a versatile energy carrier, enabling power generation, fuel production, life support, and atmospheric processing. This paper explores hydrogen's central role in electrolysis for oxygen production, fuel cells for energy storage, nuclear thermal propulsion, and chemical processes such as the Sabatier and Reverse Water-Gas Shift reactions. These technologies can facilitate methane and hydrocarbon fuel synthesis, allowing for in-situ rocket fuel production and supporting long-term exploration. Additionally, this study examines methods for hydrogen extraction from Martian ice and hydrated minerals, as well as challenges in storage, transportation, and infrastructure development. By integrating hydrogen into Martian settlement strategies, future missions can establish a closed-loop, self-sustaining system, accelerating the transition toward a hydrogen-driven space economy and enabling deeper space exploration.