Tekniker is developing a sunlight-powered reactor that converts Mars’ CO2 and astronaut wastewater into fuel, offering potential applications for both Mars missions and Earth’s environmental challenges.
To survive on Mars will mean maximizing the use of all available resources. A team from the Spanish technological center Tekniker is working on a system that uses sunlight to produce fuel from astronaut wastewater.
Borja Pozo from Tekniker explains: “We aim to make the first reactor to produce space propellant on Mars using the planet’s air, which is 95% carbon dioxide. The reactor will be powered by sunlight, and astronauts’ greywater will be used to help in the production of the propellant.”
The ‘photoelectrochemical’ system, relying on high-efficiency catalytic materials to produce hydrocarbons such as methane as well as carbon monoxide or alcohols from atmospheric CO2 plus wastewater. In the process it will also detoxify the water used – serving as a recycling method.
Jean-Christophe Berton, ESA technical officer for the project, adds: “The outcome of this activity could provide ESA with valuable input on the production of propellant on Mars or to power remote sites like ground stations on Earth. It could also potentially provide input on how to decarbonize our own atmosphere.”
Supported through the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities, the project was initiated through ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform, seeking out promising new ideas for space. Find out more about this and other recent OSIP activities here.
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