Likely to be filed under interest stories only, Forbes has reported on a crucial energy source for colonising Mars.
Last week, SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk announced plans for the colonization of planet Mars within the next 6 years. So while the challenge of getting there is huge, one major obstacle for staying there for years requires energy.
So while solar energy is likely a key source, there will also be need for heat … so that’s where supposedly geothermal energy pops up.
In an article on Forbes, the author asked a longtime Mars advocate on the possible energy needs. While – so the article a 100 kW nuclear reactor might be a good start, in the end energy in the excess of 10 MW will be required and geothermal energy seems to have the potential to be a valid source.
With possible water sources beneath the surface and a hot core, geothermal energy might be available at depth of around 1,000 meters.
