NASA’s New Device Could Make Fuel And Oxygen On Mars

A Southwest Research Institute and University of Texas at San Antonio experiment has passed a critical NASA review, clearing it for parabolic flight testing. The technology will evaluate a device designed to use local resources on Mars to produce fuel, oxygen, and other life-support compounds.

The Mars Atmospheric Reactor for Synthesis of Consumables (MARS-C) is designed to operate in Martian conditions, which have one third of Earth’s gravity, colder temperatures, and lower atmospheric pressure.

“The payload is ready to fly aboard an aircraft flying a parabolic profile. We have demonstrated to NASA that our design, procedures, and safety considerations have met the requirements needed to execute the parabolic flight test,” said Kevin Supak.

The experiment uses six electrochemical cells inside a three-by-seven-foot payload. The system will test how the technology works in reduced gravity conditions during parabolic flights, which create brief periods of lunar, Martian, and zero gravity.

The cells will convert simulated Martian brine and carbon dioxide into oxygen, ethanol, and other hydrocarbons. Cameras and equipment will monitor gas buildup, electrical currents, and fuel production during the flights.

“By qualifying for this parabolic flight, we get to learn how hydrocarbon-producing electrolyzers behave at Martian gravity conditions,” said Dr. Shrihari Sankarasubramanian. “The resulting insights will help us improve system design and performance and put MARS-C on the pathway to potentially serve in astronaut life-support applications and chemical production on Mars.”

The project is supported by NASA’s TechLeap Prize and the Connecting through Research Partnerships program, along with support from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Southwest Research Institute.