Discovery of abundant, accessible hydrocarbons nearly everywhere in the solar system

摘要

Analysis of the data gathered during the Comet Halley encounter during 1987 resulted in a body of literature asserting that all comets contain substantial percentages of hydrocarbon solids. Arguments are made that the amount of hydrocarbon material in the accessible comets of the inner Solar system can substantially exceed the known reserves of hydrocarbons on Earth. An example is given of at least one conceptually simple method to use comet material as feedstock for space transportation schemes that can move masses through the solar system comparable to the mass carried by oil supertankers.