Use wechat scan QR code < / P > < p > to share with friends and circle of friends < / P > < p > in the future < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E5%AE%87%E8%88%AA%E5%91%98 "> How do astronauts < / a > learn from < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E7%81%AB%E6%98%9F "> Mars < / a > return < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%83 "> Earth < / a >? The latest research shows that they can use methane on Mars to make < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E7%81%AB%E7%AE%AD "> rocket < / a > < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E7%87%83%E6%96%99 "> fuel < / a >. < / P > < p > < / P > < p > at present, researchers have designed a new method to make methane based rocket fuel, which they hope will make it feasible for Mars to return to earth. It is reported that this idea was put forward by Elon Musk and engineers of SpaceX, who are considering how to use carbon dioxide and aquatic products in Mars ice Carbon and hydrogen molecules in alkanes. < / P > < p > so theoretically, future astronauts can use this technology to convert Mars ice, carbon dioxide and other materials into rocket fuel for returning to earth. This new method is only a "proof of concept" at present, which means that it has only been tested in the laboratory, but not in the real environment. < / P > < p > nevertheless, physicist hinholin of the University of California, Irvine, who is in charge of the research, said that a lot of engineering design and research analysis are needed before the technology can be fully realized, but the research project has a bright future. < / P > < p > in order to make methane on Mars, the research team adopted the two-step operation method of converting water to respirable oxygen on the international space station, and converted the process into one-step operation method, during which monoatomic zinc was used as a catalyst. "Essentially, zinc is a highly efficient catalyst, which has the advantages of high reaction time, high selectivity and portability, which is the best condition for space travel," he said < / P > < p > by reducing the two steps to one, the device becomes more compact and portable, making it easier to transport on Mars. "This new method uses a single zinc atom as a reaction catalyst to help produce methane from carbon dioxide, and in this process, this special catalyst can effectively convert carbon dioxide into methane," sinholin said At present, many launch vehicles do not use methane based rocket fuel, so this design theory must be effectively compatible with future rocket propulsion technology. However, compared with liquid hydrogen fuel used by Boeing and Lockheed, methane fuel has more advantages. Studies have shown that some types of rocket fuel leave carbon residues in the engine that need to be cleaned up, which is difficult to achieve on Mars, but not impossible. < / P > < p > some commercial space companies have started to develop methane based rocket fuels, such as SpaceX's starship Raptor engine, blue origin's be-4 engine, and firefly space company is developing alpha rockets using methane. (Kamala) < / P > < p >