In Situ Resource Utilization on Mars - Update from DRA 5.0 Study

Sanders, Gerald B.

doi:10.2514/6.2010-799

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Trade studies over the past 15 years have identified ‘Mars atmospheric CO 2 [as] important for O 2 and hydrocarbon fuel production, nitrogen (N 2 ) [as] important as a buffer gas for life support, [and] argon (Ar) [as] useful as an inert gas for science experiments and propulsion system purging’ [ 83 ]. Accordingly, carbon-based fuels such as methane, methanol, benzene/toluene and Fischer–Tropsch products have been closely examined for their Mars utility [ 84 ]. Of these, a (liquefied) methane–(liquefied) oxygen combination is the currently selected ascent propellant, based upon its propulsion performance and in situ production process complexity [ 84 , 85 ].…”

Section: Propellant Generation In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, carbon-based fuels such as methane, methanol, benzene/toluene and Fischer–Tropsch products have been closely examined for their Mars utility [ 84 ]. Of these, a (liquefied) methane–(liquefied) oxygen combination is the currently selected ascent propellant, based upon its propulsion performance and in situ production process complexity [ 84 , 85 ]. Methane's density-specific impulse is higher than that of hydrogen, which is an important consideration for compact, low-volume engine feasibility.…”

Section: Propellant Generation In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards synthetic biological approaches to resource utilization on space missions

Menezes

Cumbers

Hogan

et al. 2015

J. R. Soc. Interface.

122

127

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This paper demonstrates the significant utility of deploying non-traditional biological techniques to harness available volatiles and waste resources on manned missions to explore the Moon and Mars. Compared with anticipated non-biological approaches, it is determined that for 916 day Martian missions: 205 days of high-quality methane and oxygen Mars bioproduction with Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum can reduce the mass of a Martian fuel-manufacture plant by 56%; 496 days of biomass generation with Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima on Mars can decrease the shipped wet-food mixed-menu mass for a Mars stay and a one-way voyage by 38%; 202 days of Mars polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis with Cupriavidus necator can lower the shipped mass to three-dimensional print a 120 m3 six-person habitat by 85% and a few days of acetaminophen production with engineered Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 can completely replenish expired or irradiated stocks of the pharmaceutical, thereby providing independence from unmanned resupply spacecraft that take up to 210 days to arrive. Analogous outcomes are included for lunar missions. Because of the benign assumptions involved, the results provide a glimpse of the intriguing potential of ‘space synthetic biology’, and help focus related efforts for immediate, near-term impact.

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Section: Propellant Generation In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Propellant Generation In Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards synthetic biological approaches to resource utilization on space missions

Menezes

Cumbers

Hogan

et al. 2015

J. R. Soc. Interface.

122

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Case 3 adds in oxygen and water requirements for life support. The oxygen numbers are based on [9] while the water numbers are based on [10] which defines a so-called 'water rich' Mars scenario where Mars water is used for everything from drinking to laundry. The most conservative case was used which assumes an open-loop ECLSS system.…”

Section: Case Title Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ISRU propellant production system for a fully fueled Mars Ascent Vehicle

Kleinhenz

Paz

2017

10th Symposium on Space Resource Utilization

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In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) will enable the long term presence of humans beyond low earth orbit. Since 2009, oxygen production from the Mars atmosphere has been baselined as an enabling technology for Mars human exploration by NASA. However, using water from the Martian regolith in addition to the atmospheric CO2 would enable the production of both liquid Methane and liquid Oxygen, thus fully fueling a Mars return vehicle. A case study was performed to show how ISRU can support NASA's Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC) using methane and oxygen production from Mars resources. A model was built and used to generate mass and power estimates of an end-to-end ISRU system including excavation and extraction water from Mars regolith, processing the Mars atmosphere, and liquefying the propellants. Even using the lowest yield regolith, a full ISRU system would weigh 1.7 mT while eliminating the need to transport 30 mT of ascent propellants from earth.

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“…Electrolytic cells offer the very interesting opportunity of obtaining either of them, or even both in the very same process, in this case delivering syngas. Electrolysis of CO 2 , H 2 O, and co-electrolysis of CO 2 /H 2 O mixtures were first demonstrated in the 1960s under NASA contracts for the purpose of O 2 production for life support and propulsion in spacecraft [72]. It is known that all electrolyzers have the ability to split CO 2 as they do H 2 O molecules, although at different rates.…”

Section: Electrochemical Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The RWGS and FT Ethylene Reactor concept for ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) space mission is an inspiring approach [72]. Carbon dioxide acquired from the Martian atmosphere is reacted with hydrogen by reverse water gas shift (RWGS):…”

Section: A Space Mission Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Synthetic Fuels for a Carbon Neutral Economy

Rosa

2017

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Fossil fuels depletion and increasing environmental impacts arising from their use call for seeking growing supplies from renewable and nuclear primary energy sources. However, it is necessary to simultaneously attend to both the electrical power needs and the specificities of the transport and industrial sector requirements. A major question posed by the shift away from traditional fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources lies in matching the power demand with the daily and seasonal oscillation and the intermittency of these natural energy fluxes. Huge energy storage requirements become necessary or otherwise the decline of the power factor of both the renewable and conventional generation would mean loss of resources. On the other hand, liquid and gaseous fuels, for which there is vast storage and distribution capacity available, appear essential to supply the transport sector for a very long time ahead, besides their domestic and industrial roles. Within this context, the present assessment suggests that proven technologies and sound tested principles are available to develop an integrated energy system, relying on synthetic fuels. These would incorporate carbon capture and utilization in a closed carbon cycle, progressively relying mostly on solar and/or nuclear primary sources, providing both electric power and gaseous/liquid hydrocarbon fuels, having ample storage capacity, and able to timely satisfy all forms of energy demand. The principles and means are already available to develop a carbon-neutral synthetic fuel economy.

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In Situ Resource Utilization on Mars - Update from DRA 5.0 Study

Cited by 16 publications

References 1 publication

Towards synthetic biological approaches to resource utilization on space missions

Towards synthetic biological approaches to resource utilization on space missions

An ISRU propellant production system for a fully fueled Mars Ascent Vehicle

The Role of Synthetic Fuels for a Carbon Neutral Economy

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