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6.6 Feedstock Collection 51 cooler. This value can be scaled up to 680 W of total theoretical power needed for atmospheric acquisition to fuel a Mars ascent vehicle for a human mission. 6.6 Feedstock Collection In any system designed to carry out ISRU conversion strategies, collecting, purifying, and handling of feedstock and product are important to consider. With regards to making oxygen and fuels on Mars, the two important feedstocks to deal with are CO2 and H2O. CO2 makes up the vast majority (96%) of the thin atmosphere on Mars, with small amounts of Ar and N2 (1.9% each) and traces of carbon monoxide, water, oxygen and methane. Dust storms on the surface of Mars represent another challenge in possible contaminants of feedstock. Depending on the chemical processes being used, these other components must be considered to determine if they will affect rates, yields, or lifetimes of the chemical conversion technology. Furthermore, because the Martian atmosphere is so thin (6 mbar), concentration of the feedstock may be required. For the planned MOXIE instrument, the method of harvesting and concentrating CO2 includes a filtered scroll compressor pump. Although the pump itself does not present any immediate concerns, dust mitigation presents a challenge due to a finite operation time of the filter from clogging by fine dust particles. Another previously considered method of harvesting CO2 from the atmosphere involves the use of zeolites. This method is at a low TRL, with challenges involving pressure locking due to a buildup of the inert gases N2 and Ar, and lack of methods for effectively sweeping them out of the vessel. Dust mitigation also poses a challenge for this method, as sealing a chamber is required. Methods such as filters, electrostatically enhanced cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, and Electrodynamic Dust Shields are all worth considering or expanding to address dust concerns, as Martian dust is expected to be a difficulty for many planned processes. Water harvesting represents a very different type of challenge—the water in the Mars atmosphere is present in only trace amounts, so in order to collect enough water for the proposed chemical processes (or for other future human needs), the method used must collect and purify water from the regolith. Even though the requirements for ISRU fuel production and, for example, drinking water may differ, it is worth considering what differing technologies offer because it is unlikely that more than one method will be used. It is of course possible that one method will not fulfill all requirements and that further purification will be required for some water uses and not others, however all purposes should be considered when choosing a water harvesting technology. The water on Mars exists in the form of hydrated minerals or ice. A water collection method must be extremely efficient given the number of processes that will eventually require water and handling methods must likewise protect against losses to the environment. Furthermore, purity is also particularly important, as contamination may destroy catalysts, to say nothing of purity requirements for manned missions. No existing technology has been identified to fulfill thisPDF Image | ISRU Challenge Production of O2 and Fuel from CO2
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