Autonomous oxygen production for a Mars return vehicleThe way in which a chemical processor that uses the Martian atmosphere as its only feedstock, thereby reducing the mass that must be launched from earth, can help to return a surface sample from Mars from a single Space Shuttle launch is described. Richter's (1981) study on both the theoretical and experimental aspects of oxygen separation using yttria-stabilized zirconia membranes is cited. Here, separation is accomplished by applying a voltage across the membrane which results in the selective conduction of oxygen ions from one side to the other. It is noted that by using thermal dissociation of the carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere to produce oxygen (and carbon monoxide), these zirconia electrolytic cells can be employed to separate oxygen from the atmospheric stream. Descriptions are also given of atmospheric filtration, atmospheric compression, and waste heat recovery, and of the oxygen precooler and oxygen compressor.
Document ID
19820063455
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ash, R. L. (Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA, United States)
Richter, R. (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Dowler, W. L. (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Hanson, J. A. (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Uphoff, C. W. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)