Overview of NASA Technology Development for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

Paper number

IAC-17,D3,3,1,x37636

Author

Ms. Diane Linne, NASA Glenn Research Center, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Jerry Sanders, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Johnson Space Center, United States

Coauthor

Ms. Molly Anderson, NASA, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Koorosh Araghi, NASA Johnson Space Center, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Stanley Starr, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Kennedy Space Center, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Nantel Suzuki, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States

Coauthor

Mr. Terence O'Malley, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States

Coauthor

Dr. David Eisenman, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States

Coauthor

Dr. George Schmidt, NASA Glenn Research Center, United States

Year

2017

Abstract

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) encompasses a broad range of systems that enable the production and use of extraterrestrial resources in support of future exploration missions.  It has the potential to greatly reduce the dependency on resources transported from Earth (e.g., propellants, life support fluids), thereby significantly improving the ability to conduct future missions.  ISRU has long been considered a critical technology for lowering the mass and cost of space exploration architectures, and dramatically reducing the amount of supplies that must be launched from Earth.  It is generally recognized that ISRU is a key enabler and necessary capability for eventual establishment of any permanent human presence on the Moon or Mars.

Recognizing the critical importance of ISRU for the future, NASA is currently conducting technology development projects in two of its four major mission directorates.  The Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) program in the Agency’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) has initiated a new project for ISRU Technology focused on component, subsystem, and system maturation in the areas of water/volatiles resource acquisition, and water/volatiles and atmospheric processing into propellants and other consumable products.  The Game Changing Development (GCD) program in the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has an ISRU project focused on component technology development in the areas of Mars atmosphere acquisition, including dust management, and oxygen production from Mars atmosphere for propellant and life support consumables.  Together, these two coordinated projects are working towards a common goal of demonstrating ISRU Systems in preparation for future flight applications.

This paper provides an overview of these two projects, including a status of their current and future technology development activities.

Abstract document

IAC-17,D3,3,1,x37636.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,D3,3,1,x37636.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.