In-Space Propulsion Engine Architecture Based on Sublimation of Planetary Resources: From Exploration Robots to NEO Mitigation

Abstract

Volatile solids occur naturally on most planetary bodies including the Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets. Carbon dioxide and water ices have been detected remotely at the poles or in permanently shadowed craters on Mars and on the Moon. Comets consist mostly of ice (>85% of mass), and some asteroids also contain solid ices in various amounts. In the outer Solar System, moons of the giant planets host the same resources; Ganymede, Europa and Callisto are composed of silicate rock and water ice to varying degrees, and the Cassini-Huygens probe has revealed methane snow and water ice crusts on Titan. We investigate the concept of sublimating these ices and minerals to form gases where favorable environmental conditions prevail on many bodies in the Solar System. The applications offered by this resource sublimation concept range from powering surface systems during planetary missions to deflecting Near Earth Objects (NEO) threatening our planet by in-space propulsion.