Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION water vapour and carbon dioxide and boiling off some of the oxygen from the liquid. A seven-day supply would only run to 28 pounds of liquid oxygen—although a safety factor must be. in- cluded, so that the figure would be nearer 50 pounds. Liquid oxygen will be used by Moon explorers in spite of the fact that they must re- condense part of the oxygen that evaporates from the tanks. If the ship does not rotate to create an artificial gravity, then the condensing could be done by passing the gas through tubes on the dark side of the hull; otherwise, a massive cooling unit must be carried. Compressed oxygen gas and sodium peroxide would have far too much mass for the Moon journey and explora- tion, but the liquid oxygen for a two man crew for 20 days would be 80 pounds. The safety factor would raise this to nearer 150 pounds. Alternatives include hydro- gen peroxide and water. Hydrogen peroxide easily breaks down to give oxygen 80 and water. This reaction can be explosive if uncontrolled, adding yet another hazard to an already dangerous undertaking. Water, either from the hydrogen peroxide or carried as a liquid, can be electrolysed to give oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen makes up 95% of the mass of hydro- gen peroxide and 90% of the mass of water. The remaining hydrogen can be bled off into space. A two-man 500-days ex- pedition to Mars and back would need 2,250 pounds of water to provide the oxygen. Water would be a useful and practical oxygen carrier, as it is widely found—space- men would be able to replen- ish their tanks from the snow of the polar regions of Mars, and from the ice of the Aster- oid Belt. Even the particles of interstellar dust beyond the orbit of Jupiter are now believed to be mainly ice. Water is easily transported, and it is inert—an important consideration where so much of the living room furniture is highly explosive. Electricity for the electrolysis could, comicloooks.com