Introduction

As humanity sets its sights on the exploration and colonization of other planets, the concept of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) has emerged as a crucial strategy to reduce costs and increase sustainability. ISRU involves harnessing local resources at space destinations to provide necessary infrastructure and commodities. This approach is inspired by the human trait of adapting to new habitats by acquiring and converting local resources. While the principles of ISRU are relatively simple, their implementation in space poses unique challenges. This article delves into the exciting world of ISRU, exploring the potential of utilizing resources on celestial bodies such as Mars and the Moon.

The Promise of In-Situ Resource Utilization

The current space mission model relies on transporting all necessary supplies from Earth, resulting in logistical complexities and exorbitant costs. However, by leveraging ISRU, future missions can rely on locally sourced resources, reducing the burden of transporting massive amounts of supplies. In particular, Mars missions face significant challenges due to the long duration and distance from Earth. Recognizing the need for a new approach, a seminal 1978 paper by Ash et al. laid the groundwork for Mars ISRU analysis, which remains influential to this day.

The potential benefits of ISRU are vast. By utilizing the Martian atmosphere, which consists primarily of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon and oxygen can be extracted, providing essential resources for sustaining human life and fuelling missions. Proposed techniques include harvesting CO2 through refrigeration and extracting water from Martian soil to obtain hydrogen and additional oxygen. The optimal propellant mixture for Mars ascent vehicles has been identified as Oxygen/Methane, and processes such as electrolysis of water and methanation ofCO2 have been proposed for their production. These concepts, along with other details, were outlined in the Ash et al. paper, serving as a blueprint for subsequent analyses and mission architectures.