Brian Frankie

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Brian Frankie is a pioneering researcher in the field of planetary in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), with a particular focus on enabling sustainable human exploration of Mars. His most cited work, "Mars in-situ resource utilization based on the reverse water gas shift - Experiments and mission applications" (1997, 25 citations), introduces a groundbreaking approach to producing oxygen on the Martian surface using the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. This method offers a significantly lower energy cost compared to traditional zirconia-electrolysis systems, making it a more feasible option for long-duration missions. Frankie's research not only demonstrates the experimental viability of RWGS but also integrates it into comprehensive mission architectures, addressing critical challenges in life support and propellant production. His contributions have laid essential groundwork for future Mars exploration, influencing both NASA's strategic planning and the broader space community. With a career dedicated to bridging chemical engineering and space science, Frankie remains a key figure in advancing the technologies that will one day allow humans to live and work on other worlds.