Report on development of micro chemical/thermal systems for Mars ISRU-based missions

Sanders, Gerald B.; Peters, Todd; Wegeng, Robert S.; TeGrotenhuis, Ward E.; Rassat, Scot D.; Brooks, Kriston P.; Stenkamp, Susie

doi:10.2514/6.2001-939

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…1,2 In the current International Space Station (ISS) and other low orbit missions, the metabolically generated CO 2 is removed from the cabin air and vented into space, resulting in a net loss of O 2 . This requires a continuous resupply of O 2 via water electrolysis, and thus highlights the need for large water storage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compact and Lightweight Sabatier Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Junaedi

Hawley

Walsh

et al. 2011

41st International Conference on Environmental Systems

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compact and Lightweight Sabatier Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Junaedi

Hawley

Walsh

et al. 2011

41st International Conference on Environmental Systems

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“…Dual-Stage Mechanical Compressors with Membrane Separation, are power intensive, heavy, and have operating life duration concerns. Dual-Stage Rapid Cycle Adsorption requires a separate and complex thermal fluid control system for heating and cooling of the adsorption beds, the beds also can get contaminated by water, are sensitive to dust clogging, and the amount of CO 2 collected is directly proportional to the sorbent mass, so larger scale systems will be heavier 27 . Using CO 2 freezing/heating technology already demonstrated in the laboratory under simulated Mars surface conditions, the ICE CUBE subsystem will operate in two modes during the mission: CO 2 Collection mode and Pressurized CO 2 Delivery mode.…”

Section: B Integrated Cryogenic Extraction Of Co2 and Utilization Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Atmosphere Resource Verification INsitu (MARVIN) - In Situ Resource Demonstration for the Mars 2020 Mission

Sanders

Araghi

Ess

et al. 2014

AIAA SPACE 2014 Conference and Exposition

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The making of oxygen from resources in the Martian atmosphere, known as In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), has the potential to provide substantial benefits for future robotic and human exploration. In particular, the ability to produce oxygen on Mars for use in propulsion, life support, and power systems can provide significant mission benefits such as a reducing launch mass, lander size, and mission and crew risk. To advance ISRU for possible incorporation into future human missions to Mars, NASA proposed including an ISRU instrument on the Mars 2020 rover mission, through an announcement of opportunity (AO). The purpose of the the Mars Atmosphere Resource Verification INsitu or (MARVIN) instrument is to provide the first demonstration on Mars of oxygen production from acquired and stored Martian atmospheric carbon dioxide, as well as take measurements of atmospheric pressure and temperature, and of suspended dust particle sizes and amounts entrained in collected atmosphere gases at different times of the Mars day and year. The hardware performance and environmental data obtained will be critical for future ISRU systems that will reduce the mass of propellants and other consumables launched from Earth for robotic and human exploration, for better understanding of Mars dust and mitigation techniques to improve crew safety, and to help further define Mars global circulation models and better understand the regional atmospheric dynamics on Mars. The technologies selected for MARVIN are also scalable for future robotic sample return and human missions to Mars using ISRU.

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“…1,2 In the current International Space Station (ISS) and other low orbit missions, the metabolically generated CO 2 is removed from the cabin air and is vented into space, resulting in a net loss of O 2 . This requires a continuous re-supply of O 2 via water electrolysis, and thus highlights the need for large water storage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance Evaluation of Staged Bosch Process for CO2 Reduction to Produce Life Support Consumables

Vilekar

Hawley

Junaedi

et al. 2012

42nd International Conference on Environmental Systems

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Utilizing carbon dioxide to produce water and hence oxygen is critical for sustained manned missions in space, and to support both NASA's cabin Atmosphere Revitalization System (ARS) and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) concepts. For long term missions beyond low Earth orbit, where resupply is significantly more difficult and costly, open loop ARS, like Sabatier, consume inputs such as hydrogen. The Bosch process, on the other hand, has the potential to achieve complete loop closure and is hence a preferred choice. However, current single stage Bosch reactor designs suffer from a large recycle penalty due to slow reaction rates and the inherent limitation in approaching thermodynamic equilibrium. Developmental efforts are seeking to improve upon the efficiency (hence reducing the recycle penalty) of current single stage Bosch reactors which employ traditional steel wool catalysts. Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI), with support from NASA, has investigated the potential for utilizing catalysts supported over short-contact time Microlith substrates for the Bosch reaction to achieve faster reaction rates, higher conversions, and a reduced recycle flows. Proof-of-concept testing was accomplished for a staged Bosch process by splitting the chemistry in two separate reactors, first being the reverse water-gas-shift (RWGS) and the second being the carbon formation reactor (CFR) via hydrogenation and/or Boudouard. This paper presents the results from this feasibility study at various operating conditions. Additionally, results from two 70 hour durability tests for the RWGS reactor are discussed. Nomenclature °C= degree Celsius cm = centimeter d = diameter ft = foot g-cat = gram of metal catalyst GSA = geometric surface area hr = hour in = inch kJ = kilojoules L = liter m = meter ml = milliliter

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Report on development of micro chemical/thermal systems for Mars ISRU-based missions

Cited by 7 publications

References 1 publication

Compact and Lightweight Sabatier Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Compact and Lightweight Sabatier Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Mars Atmosphere Resource Verification INsitu (MARVIN) - In Situ Resource Demonstration for the Mars 2020 Mission

Performance Evaluation of Staged Bosch Process for CO2 Reduction to Produce Life Support Consumables

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