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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1999

Fabrication and Performance of Zirconia Electrolysis Cells for Cabon Dioxide Reduction for Mars In Situ Resource Utilization Applications

Use of the Martian atmosphere (95% CO2) to produce oxygen (for propellant and life support) can significantly lower the required launch mass and dramatically reduce the total cost for Mars missions. Zirconia electrolysis cells are one of the technologies being considered for oxygen generation from carbon dioxide in Mars In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) production plants. The attractive features of the zirconia cell for this application include simple operation and lightweight, low volume system. A zirconia electrolysis cell is an all-solid state device, based on oxygen-ion conducting zirconia electrolytes, that electrochemically reduces carbon dioxide to oxygen and carbon monoxide. The cell consists of two porous electrodes (the anode and cathode) separated by a dense zirconia electrolyte. Typical zirconia cells contain an electrolyte layer which is 200 to 400 micrometer thick. The electrical conductivity requirement for the electrolyte necessitates an operating temperature of 9000 to 10000C. Recently, the fabrication of zirconia cells by the tape calendering has been evaluated. This fabrication process provides a simple means of making cells having very thin electrolytes (5 to 30 micrometers). Thin zirconia electrolytes reduce cell ohmic losses, permitting efficient operation at lower temperatures (8000C or below). Thus, tape-calendered cells provides not only the potential of low temperature operation but also the flexibility in operating temperatures. This paper describes the fabrication of zirconia cells by the tape calendering method and discusses the performance results obtained to date.

Minh, N. Q.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Fabrication and Performance of Zirconia Electrolysis Cells for Carbon Dioxide Reduction for Mars In Situ Resource Utilization Applications

The use of the Martian atmosphere (95% CO2) to produce oxygen (for propellant and life support) can significantly lower the required launch mass and dramatically reduce the total cost for Mars missions. Zirconia electrolysis cells are one of the technologies being considered for oxygen generation from carbon dioxide in Mars In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) production plants. The attractive features of the zirconia cell for this application include simple operation and lightweight, low volume system.

Minh, N. Q.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Mapping Ice Buried by the 1875 and 1961 Tephra of Askja Volcano, Northern Iceland using Ground-Penetrating Radar: Implications for Askja Caldera as a Geophysical Testbed for In-Situ Resource Utilization

Eruptions of the Askja Volcano in Northern Iceland in 1875 and 1961 blanketed the caldera with rhyolitic and basaltic tephra deposits, respectively, which preserved layers of seasonal snowpack as massive ice. Askja serves as an operational and geophysical analog to test ground-penetrating radar field and analysis techniques for in-situ resource utilization objectives relevant to the martian and lunar environments. We conducted ground-penetrating radar surveys at center frequencies of 200, 400, and 900 MHz to map the thickness and extent of tephra deposits and underlying massive ice at three caldera sites. We identified up to 1 meter of tephra preserving up to 4.5 meters of massive ice. We measured the real dielectric permittivity of the overlying tephra and the total attenuation at each frequency of the tephra and ice. A key objective of our investigation was to determine if this attenuation (or loss) could be used as an additional, identifying characteristic of massive ice preserved at depth when compared to ice-free stratigraphy. Loss rates of the ice-rich subsurface decreases with increasing ice thickness relative to the overburden which may constitute a possible signature. Attenuation also increased with increasing frequency. The tephra, ice, and other volcanic deposits at each of our three caldera sites and the ice-free pumice-mantled 1961 Vikrahraun lava flow exhibited a characteristically low loss rate at all frequencies. This result highlights the ambiguity associated with identifying the unique signature of ice within low-loss stratigraphies, a possible challenge for its identification in the martian or lunar subsurface using radar.

Emileigh S. Shoemaker↗
NASA NTRS2010

Using Analog Field Tests To Link and Prepare Science and In-Situ Resource Utilization for Future Space Missions

A major goal of NASA s human exploration program is to learn how to use the resources of space, known as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), to lower the cost and risk of human space exploration. Successful implementation of ISRU requires detailed knowledge of surface and subsurface materials, minerals, and volatiles that may be present. This same information is required to better understand the physical and geologic composition, structure, origin, and evolution of the Moon, Mars, and other extraterrestrial bodies of interest. It is also important to recognize that while ISRU and science objectives may be similar, the desired method or hardware to achieve the information desired may be drastically different. One method to promote understanding, coordination, and joint development of instruments and operations between Science and ISRU is the use of analog field demonstrations.

Sanders, Gerald B.↗
NASA NTRS2010

In-Situ Resource Utilization for the Moon, Mars and Beyond...

For any future manned exploration to the moon, Mars, or beyond, there is a significant need to reduce the cost and logistics of transporting the raw materials such as oxygen, water, and fuel required to sustain human activity. Current research at Kennedy Space Center is focused on utilizing the resources at the destination to produce these requirements on-site, i.e. to live off the land. This program, known as In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), is the focus of the Applied Science and Technology research group here at KSC. This slide presentation will introduce the laboratories and highlight current research in ISRU to produce oxygen, water, and fuel components from lunar and Martian regolith.

Trigwell, Steve↗
NASA NTRS2011

Electrostatic Beneficiation of Lunar Regolith: Applications in In-Situ Resource Utilization

Upon returning to the moon, or further a field such as Mars, presents enormous challenges in sustaining life for extended periods of time far beyond the few days the astronauts experienced on the moon during the Apollo missions. A stay on Mars is envisioned to last several months, and it would be cost prohibitive to take all the requirements for such a stay from earth. Therefore, future exploration missions will be required to be self-sufficient and utilize the resources available at the mission site to sustain human occupation. Such an exercise is currently the focus of intense research at NASA under the In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) program. As well as oxygen and water necessary for human life, resources for providing building materials for habitats, radiation protection, and landing/launch pads are required. All these materials can be provided by the regolith present on the surface as it contains sufficient minerals and metals oxides to meet the requirements. However, before processing, it would be cost effective if the regolith could be enriched in the mineral(s) of interest. This can be achieved by electrostatic beneficiation in which tribocharged mineral particles are separated out and the feedstock enriched or depleted as required. The results of electrostatic beneficiation of lunar simulants and actual Apollo regolith, in lunar high vacuum are reported in which various degrees of efficient particle separation and mineral enrichment up to a few hundred percent were achieved.

Trigwell, Steve↗
NASA NTRS2000

In-Situ Resource Utilization: Laying the Foundation for "Living off the Land"

The technology to manufacture rocket propellants, breathing and life-support gases, fuel cell reagents, and other consumables on Mars using indigenous Martian resources as feedstock in the production process is known as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Several studies of the long-term, committed exploration of Mars by humans show that ISRU is essential ... an enabling technology. The recognized value of ISRU to human exploration is reflected in the NASA Strategic Plan. In the description of the "Strategies and Outcomes" of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Enterprise, the NASA Strategic Plan states: The [HEDS] Enterprise relies on the robotic missions of the Space Science Enterprise to provide extensive knowledge of the geology, environment, and resources of planetary bodies. The Space Science Enterprise missions will also demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing local resources to "live off the land."

Kaplan, D. I.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Frontier In-Situ Resource Utilization for Enabling Sustained Human Presence on Mars

The currently known resources on Mars are massive, including extensive quantities of water and carbon dioxide and therefore carbon, hydrogen and oxygen for life support, fuels and plastics and much else. The regolith is replete with all manner of minerals. In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) applicable frontier technologies include robotics, machine intelligence, nanotechnology, synthetic biology, 3-D printing/additive manufacturing and autonomy. These technologies combined with the vast natural resources should enable serious, pre- and post-human arrival ISRU to greatly increase reliability and safety and reduce cost for human colonization of Mars. Various system-level transportation concepts employing Mars produced fuel would enable Mars resources to evolve into a primary center of trade for the inner solar system for eventually nearly everything required for space faring and colonization. Mars resources and their exploitation via extensive ISRU are the key to a viable, safe and affordable, human presence beyond Earth. The purpose of this paper is four-fold: 1) to highlight the latest discoveries of water, minerals, and other materials on Mars that reshape our thinking about the value and capabilities of Mars ISRU; 2) to summarize the previous literature on Mars ISRU processes, equipment, and approaches; 3) to point to frontier ISRU technologies and approaches that can lead to safe and affordable human missions to Mars; and 4) to suggest an implementation strategy whereby the ISRU elements are phased into the mission campaign over time to enable a sustainable and increasing human presence on Mars.

Moses, Robert W.↗
NASA NTRS2005

In Situ Resource Utilization Technology Research and Facilities Supporting the NASA's Human Systems Research and Technology Life Support Program

The NASA Microgravity Science program has transitioned research required in support of NASA s Vision for Space Exploration. Research disciplines including the Materials Science, Fluid Physics and Combustion Science are now being applied toward projects with application in the planetary utilization and transformation of space resources. The scientific and engineering competencies and infrastructure in these traditional fields developed at multiple NASA Centers and by external research partners provide essential capabilities to support the agency s new exploration thrusts including In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Among the technologies essential to human space exploration, the production of life support consumables, especially oxygen and; radiation shielding; and the harvesting of potentially available water are realistically achieved for long-duration crewed missions only through the use of ISRU. Ongoing research in the physical sciences have produced a body of knowledge relevant to the extraction of oxygen from lunar and planetary regolith and associated reduction of metals and silicon for use meeting manufacturing and repair requirements. Activities being conducted and facilities used in support of various ISRU projects at the Glenn Research Center and Marshall Space Flight Center will be described. The presentation will inform the community of these new research capabilities, opportunities, and challenges to utilize their materials, fluids and combustion science expertise and capabilities to support the vision for space exploration.

Schlagheck, Ronald A.↗
NASA NTRS2008

NASA In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Technology and Development Project Overview

Since the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) was released in 2004, NASA, in conjunction with international space agencies, industry, and academia, has continued to define and refine plans for sustained and affordable robotic and human exploration of the Moon and beyond. With the goal of establishing a lunar Outpost on the Moon to extend human presence, pursue scientific activities, use the Moon to prepare for future human missions to Mars, and expand Earth s economic sphere, a change in how space exploration is performed is required. One area that opens up the possibility for the first time of breaking our reliance on Earth supplied consumables and learn to live off the land is In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). ISRU, which involves the extraction and processing of space resources into useful products, can have a substantial impact on mission and architecture concepts. In particular, the ability to make propellants, life support consumables, and fuel cell reagents can significantly reduce the cost, mass, and risk of sustained human activities beyond Earth. However, ISRU is an unproven capability for human lunar exploration and can not be put in the critical path of lunar Outpost success until it has been proven. Therefore, ISRU development and deployment needs to take incremental steps toward the desired end state. To ensure ISRU capabilities are available for pre-Outpost and Outpost deployment by 2020, and mission and architecture planners are confident that ISRU can meet initial and long term mission requirements, the ISRU Project is developing technologies and systems in three critical areas: (1) Regolith Excavation, Handling and Material Transportation; (2) Oxygen Extraction from Regolith; and (3) Volatile Extraction and Resource Prospecting, and in four development stages: (I) Demonstrate feasibility; (II) Evolve system w/ improved technologies; (III) Develop one or more systems to TRL 6 before start of flight development; and (IV) Flight development for Outpost. To minimize cost and ensure that ISRU technologies, systems, and functions are integrated properly into the Outpost, technology development efforts are being coordinated with other development areas such as Surface Mobility, Surface Power, Life Support, EVA, and Propulsion. Lastly, laboratory and field system-level tests and demonstrations will be performed as often as possible to demonstrate improvements in: Capabilities (ex. digging deeper); Performance (ex. lower power); and Duration (ex. more autonomy or more robustness). This presentation will provide the status of work performed to date within the NASA ISRU project with respect to technology and system development and field demonstration activities, as well as the current strategy to implement ISRU in future robotic and human lunar exploration missions.

Sanders, Gerald B.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Terrestrial Proving Ground Capabilities Needed for Lunar In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) & Construction Concepts of Operation

Incorporating any new technology or system into a human exploration mission or architecture requires development well in advance of the mission to eliminate technology, cost, and schedule risk concerns. It is often stated that technologies need to be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6, i.e. ‘system/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space)’, by Authority To Proceed (ATP) or by the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the mission at the latest. There are two game changing capabilities for sustained human exploration of space that can have a significant effect on the overall exploration architecture and the technologies and systems included in the architecture. The first game changing capability, known as In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), involves the search for, acquisition, and processing of resources on the Moon and Mars into mission consumables and usable products, and the second is the ability to utilize space resources in the construction of roads, structures, and surface infrastructure. ISRU and surface construction capabilities have the potential to greatly reduce the cost and risk of human exploration while enabling sustained lunar surface and commercial operations. However, ISRU and surface construction systems are complex and must operate in extremely harsh environments, with abrasive regolith and pervasive dust, for long-periods of time, with potentially limited opportunities for maintenance and repair by humans. The complexity of these capabilities and operations also means that there are a limited number of companies that can design, build, and operate end-to-end systems on their own. The majority of the technologies being developed for these systems are by small companies and at the component or subsystem level. With the overarching strategy of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) to enable industry to implement ISRU and surface infrastructure for Artemis and space commercialization, it is therefore important to establish processes and capabilities to promote and foster collaborations among large and small companies involved in ISRU and surface infrastructure development. For ISRU and infrastructure systems and capabilities to be used in Artemis missions and future commercial lunar surface operations, a coordinated framework with virtual/physical integration and testing locations, or ‘Proving Grounds’, needs to be established and operated on a regular basis and open to all. This paper will discuss the ISRU and surface construction near and long-term concepts of operations, and review operations and lessons-learned from the previous ISRU analog field tests. From this information, requirements and capabilities will be proposed to support and enable the integration and testing of ISRU and construction systems with industry, academia, and international agencies, as well as what facilities and organizations could help establish these Proving Grounds.

ISRU↗
NASA NTRS2000

In Situ Resource Utilization Technologies for Enhancing and Expanding Mars Scientific and Exploration Missions

The primary objectives of the Mars exploration program are to collect data for planetary science in a quest to answer questions related to Origins, to search for evidence of extinct and extant life, and to expand the human presence in the solar system. The public and political engagement that is critical for support of a Mars exploration program is based on all of these objectives. In order to retain and to build public and political support, it is important for NASA to have an integrated Mars exploration plan, not separate robotic and human plans that exist in parallel or in sequence. The resolutions stemming from the current architectural review and prioritization of payloads may be pivotal in determining whether NASA will have such a unified plan and retain public support. There are several potential scientific and technological links between the robotic-only missions that have been flown and planned to date, and the combined robotic and human missions that will come in the future. Taking advantage of and leveraging those links are central to the idea of a unified Mars exploration plan. One such link is in situ resource utilization (ISRU) as an enabling technology to provide consumables such as fuels, oxygen, sweep and utility gases from the Mars atmosphere.

Sridhar, K. R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Investigating the Applications of In-Situ Resource Utilization for Future Crewed Mars Missions

There are significant gaps in knowledge regarding the water ice on Mars and future preparation for human missions. So far, six rovers have traversed Mars’ rocky surface, aiming to understand the planet’s composition and search for signs of life. A rover mission set to explore the high northern latitudes of Mars with the goal of analyzing ice cores could greatly advance scientific knowledge to better understand Mars’s ancient climate and geochemistry. As of now, little has been accomplished in the exploration of colder regions and the extraction of water ice apart from the Phoenix lander and the Viking 2 mission; however, the science potential of the Phoenix and Viking landers was limited due to their inability to explore terrain like rovers. The exploration of the near-polar region Arcadia Planitia and its water ice deposits could reveal signs of past microbial life through preserved biosignatures. Additionally, to prepare for permanent human habitation on Mars, this proposed rover could continue the characterization of Mars’s current land and mineral composition, and search for materials that future humans may need on Mars (such as water for habitation, basalt for construction, and olivine for manufacturing purposes). This would increase understanding of the potential for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on Mars. The use of ISRU will reduce the amount of material needed on the initial flight, and similarly will reduce fuel costs. The mission to Arcadia Planitia incorporates the use of various mineral-extracting and imaging instruments (Martian Ice Core Analyzer, ground-penetrating radar, NavCam, Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, SuperCam, etc.) to collect data from water ice and geologic samples. A near-polar rover mission to Mars would illuminate Mars’ past and present, while learning more about martian resources to benefit human explorers in the future.

Annika Sachdeva↗
NASA NTRS2018

A Discussion of Integrated Life Support and In Situ Resource Utilization Architectures for Mars Surface Missions

Life support on the International Space Station is made possible by a combination of technologies to ensure the availability of clean water and air for the crew. Resources, including water and oxygen, are partially recovered and recycled; the balance is lost as waste either to space or incinerated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Frequent resupply cargo is provided to ISS to replace these lost resources. For missions beyond Low Earth Orbit, resupply becomes increasingly challenging both economically and logistically. To limit the need for these resupply missions, three options are available: increase the recovery and recycling of necessary materials, leverage in situ resources available for a given mission, or a combination of both. Here we discuss several basic life support and in situ resource utilization (ISRU) architectures, identify common technologies, propose possible integrated architectures, identify benefits of and challenges to varying levels of life support and ISRU integration, and discuss several considerations for technology commonality, dis-similar redundancy, and developmental overlap.

Abney, Morgan B.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Moon to Mars In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Status Update

In 2017, NASA initiated the Artemis program to send astronauts back to the lunar surface, create a sustainable human lunar exploration program, and lead the first human exploration mission to the Mars surface. While much of NASA’s plans for the Artemis program currently focus on the Human Lunar Return and the ability for astronauts to explore the lunar surface for limited durations each year, the longer-term vision for the Artemis program is to enable sustained human exploration and commercial operations in cis-lunar space and the lunar surface. An important aspect of achieving this long-term vision, is to better understand and characterize the resources on the Moon and Mars and learn how to extract and use these resources. Known as In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), the identification, mapping, extraction, and processing of space resources has the potential to greatly reduce the cost and risk of human exploration. These are achieved by reducing what needs to be delivered from Earth and the dependency on these supplies, lowering costs through commercial operations, and expanding infrastructure for safer and more capable exploration and surface operations. To guide development of ISRU technologies and systems on the ground and demonstrate these capabilities on the Moon and Mars, the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) created and released the ISRU Envisioned Future Priorities (EFP) strategic plan in 2022 and updated it in 2023. While lunar ISRU technology development had already started, these publicly released strategic plans have been used to guide and prioritize technology development, and assess the progress in achieving the vision. Since the release of the ISRU EFP, there have been several significant activities/events that have occurred with respect to human lunar exploration, surface infrastructure, and ISRU. This presentation will provide an overview and status of on-going technology and system development activities, an update of ISRU into the Artemis campaign, an update on ISRU-related activities.

NASA↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

In-Space Inspection Needs: Opportunities for advanced NDE tools such as x-ray CT for additively manufactured parts, in-situ resource utilization, geological applications, and more

It is now 50 years since the first human presence on the surface of the Moon and as we strive to return with women and men in the next few years, we embrace new technical challenges, goals, and innovative solutions to address 21st century objectives. These new ambitions carry fresh challenges and risks, with the field of NDE playing an increasingly more relevant role towards meeting these essential goals. In recent years, more advanced NDE tools have triggered a rapid expansion of applications for the space industry. In particular, x-ray Computed Tomography (CT) has proven to be a trusted and powerful asset for spaceflight hardware inspection, as well as applied geotechnical analysis for natural materials (e.g., rocks, soils) for NASA and across industry. However, such methods have yet to be extended to “deep space” applications such as those that are now part of the US National Space Policy Directive (SPD-1) and the accelerated push to return humans to the Moon (i.e., Artemis). For this reason, advancing these powerful Earth-based laboratory methods via new technologies, integrated computational solutions, and creative engineering approaches is directly aligned with national space policies, as well as with multiple NASA Strategic Plan priorities. The use of x-ray CT at scales as fine as a few microns or smaller can identify spacecraft part failure modes relevant to quality assurance for flight hardware and AM parts such as those recently developed for ISS. This technology could also identify valuable metallic phases within geological materials (i.e., rocks or drill cores), enabling resource-relevant triage of samples for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and high science value sample return to Earth laboratories. There is also significant application for 3D imaging tools for medical use such as inspecting protective gear as well as bone density degradation studies which are critical in establishing a sustained presence in space. Timing for development of these tools for space use is advantageous as we prepare for new opportunities in the next few years and recognize recent commercial technology advancements which make it feasible. Moreover, as NASA strives to take full advantage of developments in AM technologies, including In-Space Manufacturing (ISM), it is widely recognized that NDE tools such as CT will play an essential role in acceptance of these parts for widespread use. New in-space 3D inspection tools with complimentary technology such as AI-based automated feature recognition (accelerated by machine learning), rapid compositional analysis, and advanced sample manipulation, would be a game-changing step toward a new class of crew-based laboratory sensors once human outposts on the Moon are established.

In-Space Non-Destructive Evaluation↗
NASA NTRS2003

From Oxygen Generation to Metals Production: In Situ Resource Utilization by Molten Oxide Electrolysis

For the exploration of other bodies in the solar system, electrochemical processing is arguably the most versatile technology for conversion of local resources into usable commodities: by electrolysis one can, in principle, produce (1) breathable oxygen, (2) silicon for the fabrication of solar cells, (3) various reactive metals for use as electrodes in advanced storage batteries, and (4) structural metals such as steel and aluminum. Even so, to date there has been no sustained effort to develop such processes, in part due to the inadequacy of the database. The objective here is to identify chemistries capable of sustaining molten oxide electrolysis in the cited applications and to examine the behavior of laboratory-scale cells designed to generate oxygen and to produce metal. The basic research includes the study of the underlying high-temperature physical chemistry of oxide melts representative of lunar regolith and of Martian soil. To move beyond empirical approaches to process development, the thermodynamic and transport properties of oxide melts are being studied to help set the limits of composition and temperature for the processing trials conducted in laboratory-scale electrolysis cells. The goal of this investigation is to deliver a working prototype cell that can use lunar regolith and Martian soil to produce breathable oxygen along with metal by-product. Additionally, the process can be generalized to permit adaptation to accommodate different feedstock chemistries, such as those that will be encountered on other bodies in the solar system. The expected results of this research include: (1) the identification of appropriate electrolyte chemistries; (2) the selection of candidate anode and cathode materials compatible with electrolytes named above; and (3) performance data from a laboratory-scale cell producing oxygen and metal. On the strength of these results it should be possible to assess the technical viability of molten oxide electrolysis for in situ resource utilization on the Moon and Mars. In parallel, there may be commercial applications here on earth, such as new green technologies for metals extraction and for treatment of hazardous waste, e.g., fixing heavy metals.

Khetpal, Deepak↗