Proof of Concept Magnesium-Carbon Dioxide Rocket for Mars Exploration

A prototype magnesium bipropellant rocket was developed for Martian Payload Ascent Vehicle and atmospheric applications. This game-changing technology could enable a near-term demonstration of Martian in-situ Resource Utilization. In this work, a rocket fueled by magnesium powder and gaseous carbon dioxide was built and tested. Test results include direct measurements of thrust, from which specific impulse is calculated. With the rocket exhausting to 1 atmosphere, measured specific impulse was approximately 40 s below predicted specific impulse. However, the technology is not yet optimized. Many novel applications for the technology are discussed.