Hi, all. The novel I'm working is set on a partially terraformed
Mars. The atmosphere is thickened and warmed, but is still
predominantly CO2. I was going to have characters using rebreathers,
but then realized that rebreathers include their own oxygen. Would
it be plausible to have them use an apparatus that doesn't carry its
own oxygen but simply processes the atmospheric gas and scrubs the
carbon from it?

Thanks,
Andy

I'd suggest you ask around in The Mars Society chat room (c.f.,
http://www.marssociety.org/interactive/chat.asp). I don't know whether
or not one could make a Sabatier reactor small enough to carry on one's
back.

Ron
******

"ad101867"
12/06/01 08:13 AM
Please respond to spacesettlers

To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
cc:
Subject: [spacesettlers] Breathing apparatus on Mars

Hi, all. The novel I'm working is set on a partially terraformed
Mars. The atmosphere is thickened and warmed, but is still
predominantly CO2. I was going to have characters using rebreathers,
but then realized that rebreathers include their own oxygen. Would
it be plausible to have them use an apparatus that doesn't carry its
own oxygen but simply processes the atmospheric gas and scrubs the
carbon from it?

Thanks,
Andy

ad101867 wrote:

> Hi, all. The novel I'm working is set on a partially terraformed
> Mars. The atmosphere is thickened and warmed, but is still
> predominantly CO2. I was going to have characters using rebreathers,
> but then realized that rebreathers include their own oxygen. Would
> it be plausible to have them use an apparatus that doesn't carry its
> own oxygen but simply processes the atmospheric gas and scrubs the
> carbon from it?

If you mean CO2 -> C + O2 then not plausible. That takes quite a
bit of energy; and off-hand there's no way to supply that other
than batteries or nuclear; both of which are going to be heavy.

I'm pretty sure it would be lighter to carry around O2 cylinders

> Thanks,
> Andy
>

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill

--- In spacesettlers, "Andy Nimmo" wrote:

> Hi Andy,
>
> No I'm not! I'm presently working on a pilot TV series based on a
> space hotel.

Please please PLEASE tell us if and when this comes on TV! And what
channel, and anything else that you think might be helpful. I
wouldn't want to miss this.

Xenophile (who wanted exactly this for an interesting TV season)