if we could develop something that eats rust and releases oxygen in a mars climate we could really have something...

is there energy to be gained from this reaciton? I would wonder would FeO2 -> Fe + O2 be endothermic or exothermic? Is there energy to be gained from the lifeform performing this energy conversion? (been quite a while since I took chemnistry in HS)

If not I would expect it to have a hard time functioning. It would possibly spend too much of its energy trying to convert the rust into iron and air and not enough on surviving the harsh climate.

Then again if the conversion releases energy then it may just be the ticket!!

-Justin Kelly