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by ncmncm 1520 days ago
We are already quite well practiced in handling and transporting liquified methane, which in only incrementally easier than LH2.

Rockets are lately designed for methane in large part so that concentrating Martian atmosphere for fuel will be more practical, but also for CO2's greater molecular mass, important in an earthly first stage launcher, which needs absolute thrust, to get moving in 1G, much more than efficiency.

As fuel, LH2 may find use mainly or even exclusively for aircraft, but it is exceedingly valuable as feedstock for other work, including ammonia and, yes, methane synthesis. Methane is itself feedstock for many other processes. Ideally these would not result in released CO2...