Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Microwave Extraction of Water from Boreholes in Regolith
Project Description
Space Resources Extraction Technology, Inc. is developing and testing microwave technology for extracting water (along with other volatiles) from planetary permafrost. This in-space water will be used for human habitation, radiation protection, and to produce in-space rocket propellant. Utilization of In-space resources will save the high launch costs and higher costs to deliver payloads to other planetary surfaces. To greatly reduce Earth launch mass, propellant to return from the Martian surface will be manufactured with in-situ resources (i.e. water, CO2) on the surface of Mars for manned exploration missions. A microwave probe can penetrate deep below the surface and extract water (vapor) below water depleted layers near the surface and where water ice is more concentration. We will test the efficiency of water extraction radiating microwave energy with our microwave probes in simulated Martian permafrost simulant under vacuum (i.e. 5 torr). We have shown that microwaves will penetrate regolith, heating in-situ. As the regolith heats, water ice sublimes to water vapor that will flow out of the regolith and can be funneled through a conduit in the probe to a remote cold trap. Microwave water extraction has been demonstrated in our lab by beaming microwaves with a microwave horn. We will validate that the process works with microwave probes and water extraction rates will be measured. It is a simple vapor transport process, efficient, less complex, and a lower mass method for volatiles prospecting and water mining. The process will eliminate the need for excavation and associated mining equipment, it can save the mass/costs to deliver excavation, mining and regolith handling equipment to Mars as well as the Moon. This method would reduce the cost/mass that has to be delivered to the moon ($1M/kg) and Mars ($10M/kg).
More »
Anticipated Benefits
NASA has plans to prospect and to demonstrate mining of in-situ water from the lunar poles. The water will be used for human habitation and for rocket propellant (oxygen) to ascent from the moon. Use of in-space resources will greatly reduce launch mass as well as the cost/mass that has to be delivered to the surface of the moon ($1M/kg) and Mars ($10M/kg. Any manned mission to Mars will require the use of Martian water for habitation (water and oxygen) and to produce the propellant for ascent from Mars. A potentially related application of microwave water sublimation recovery technology is to increase the water recovery efficiency from the water waste stream on long duration human exploration missions. 1500 characters
We have identified a unique terrestrial application of our technology. The "Rapid Water Extraction, Drying, and Condensation Technologies for Textiles" is the subject of an industrial call for proposals RFP #69807 by NineSigma (2014). We are working to define how our process will reduce the energy and increase the water recovery for this environmentally friendly industrial textile drying requirement. This is especially important for the state of California. Many people do not have an abundant, reliable, and affordable sources of potabe drinking water. As the human population surpasses 6 billion, water is becoming a precious commodity. Also military or expeditionary missions on Earth where water is scarce could utilize our technology to recover water providing potable water. Our technology could be used to thaw permafrost for repairing utilities in frozen ground. Microwaves have been used to remove hazardous chemical from contaminated soil. Our microwave probe would be a more useful means for getting the microwaves deeper into the ground to optimize the heating of soil for chemical removal. More »
We have identified a unique terrestrial application of our technology. The "Rapid Water Extraction, Drying, and Condensation Technologies for Textiles" is the subject of an industrial call for proposals RFP #69807 by NineSigma (2014). We are working to define how our process will reduce the energy and increase the water recovery for this environmentally friendly industrial textile drying requirement. This is especially important for the state of California. Many people do not have an abundant, reliable, and affordable sources of potabe drinking water. As the human population surpasses 6 billion, water is becoming a precious commodity. Also military or expeditionary missions on Earth where water is scarce could utilize our technology to recover water providing potable water. Our technology could be used to thaw permafrost for repairing utilities in frozen ground. Microwaves have been used to remove hazardous chemical from contaminated soil. Our microwave probe would be a more useful means for getting the microwaves deeper into the ground to optimize the heating of soil for chemical removal. More »
Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Resources Extraction Technology | Lead Organization | Industry | Huntsville, Alabama |
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Alabama
-
Texas
Suggest an Edit
Recommend changes and additions to this project record.