ISRU Development Strategy and Recent Activities to Support Near and Far Term Missions

摘要

The practical expansion of humans beyond low Earth orbit into near-Earth space and out into the solar system forrnexploration, commercialization, tourism, and colonization will require the effective utilization of whatever indigenousrnresources are available to make these endeavors economically feasible and capable of extended operations. This concept ofrn"living off the land" is called In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). The resources available for ISRU applications varyrnwidely, depending upon the location. However, there are resources, technologies, and processes that are common to multiplerndestinations and ISRU-related applications. These resources range from carbon dioxide (CO_2) and water vapor found inrnhuman habitats (surface & spacecraft) and in the Martian atmosphere, to water (ice and hydrated minerals) and variousrnoxygen, carbon, and metal-bearing resources found on comets and asteroids, and in planetary surface materials at numerousrndestinations of interest (Moon, Mars, Titan, and Europa). Many parties are investigating the common technologies andrnprocesses to effectively extract and use these resources. This paper will discuss how ISRU is enabling for both near and farrnterm human exploration missions, and present a summary of recent and on-going ISRU work sponsored by thernNASA/Johnson Space Center. Technology development activities that will be described in detail include an advanced CO_2rnfreezer acquisition system, a multi-fluid common bulkhead cryogenic storage tank, and a variety of microchannel chemicalrnreactor concepts. Recent advanced Sabatier reactor concept development activities in preparation for later, end-to-end systemrntesting will be described as well. This paper will also discuss an ISRU-based strategy to enable extensive robotic and humanrnsurface exploration operations and a related on-going demonstration program for a fuel cell based power plant for roverrnapplications. Technology commonalities between ISRU, life support systems, and Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA),rnapplications will also be presented.