Atmosphere of Mars
Composition, resources, and energy potential
The Martian atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide, which can be condensed and reacted with water to produce various useful chemicals, including methane for rocket fuel, or methanol. Methanol can be used to make biomass for fish food, intermediates for chemical synthesis, or be used in methanol-powered fuel cells. Such reactions are already used on Earth to synthesize methanol in an environmentally sound fashion, as Kevin Kelly and Will Patel reported at the 28th Annual Mars Society Convention.
About half the remainder is nitrogen, which can be isolated and used by plants or mixed with oxygen to provide a breathable atmosphere. Although the Martian atmosphere is thin, one hundredth or less the thickness of the atmosphere at Earth's sea level, with the right equipment, wind power can be used to produce electricity as a supplement to solar power.