In Situ Propellant Production

As the topic came up recently about whose innovation it was to use
Martian resources to make rocket fuel, I present this:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=320322&id=1&qs=Ntt%3D19790050720

Title: In situ propellant production - A new potential for round-
trip spacecraft
Author(s): Stancati, M. L.; Niehoff, J. C.; Wells, W. C.; Ash, R. L.
Abstract: In situ propellant production (ISPP) greatly reduces the
Earth escape requirements for some roundtrip missions, particularly
Mars Sample Return. ISPP systems are described which produce oxygen or
oxygen and methane from available atmospheric and surface materials.
With ISPP, a 1 kg sample can be returned direct from Mars using a
single Shuttle launch. Mars entry can be either direct or from orbit.
Comet and asteroid sample return is also accomplished within a single
Shuttle launch. Launch requirements for round-trip missions to
Ganymede and Callisto are reduced by 15 to 40.
NASA Center: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Publication Date: JAN 1, 1979
Report Number: AIAA PAPER 79-0906
Meeting Information: Conference on Advanced Technology for Future
Space Systems, May 8-10, 1979, Hampton, VA

I recall seeing even earlier treatments of the concept, though I can't
immediately locate them (nor remember them with any clarity).
.