In Situ Resource Utilization on Mars - Update from DRA 5.0 Study

Abstract

The making of propellants and life support consumables from local resources, more commonly know as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) or ―living off the land‖, for robotic and human missions to Mars has been studied many times. The main reasons for incorporating ISRU technologies and systems into a Mars mission is to reduce Earth launch mass or increase payload capabilities to the Mars surface by not having to bring all the ascent propellant from Earth, reduce risk by providing a functional backup and in-situ capability for crew life support and radiation shielding, and/or increase mission flexibility and enable new capabilities through the use of in-situ fueled hoppers and mobile power systems. In December 2007, NASA completed the Mars Human Design Reference Architecture (DRA) 5.0 study. The ISRU and mission trades performed in the Mars Human DRA 5.0 study were more comprehensive than any previous human Mars mission study. Previously considered Mars atmosphere ISRU processes were reevaluated in light of technology and system development accomplishments since the last Mars Design Reference Mission (DRM) 4.0 study was performed in 2004. Also for the first time, Mars water was considered as a potential resource in this study with and without the use of Mars atmospheric resources. This paper will provide an overview of the ISRU trade studies, results, key findings, and recommendations from the Mars Human DRA 5.0 study.