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A concept has been developed for the production of photovoltaic energy collection systems on the Moon by vacuum deposition directly onto the lunar surface. Using this technique it would be possible to quickly install quite large capacities of power on the Moon at relatively low cost. Most of the material required for photovoltaic devices is readily available on the Moon, and taking production machinery to the Moon can further lower the cost of power if the machinery can be operated for long periods of time. Low-cost energy on the Moon could enable a wide range of activities including support of robust human outposts, production of propellants for use on the Moon or for export, production of a wide range of other materials for use in space, and beaming of energy from the Moon to space and to Earth. A proposed strategy by which lunar power can be developed in the near future is closely connected to the establishment of a human outpost on the Moon.

This paper describes a revolutionary materials structure and power storage concept based on the in-situ production of abiotic carbon 4 compounds. One of the largest single mass penalties required to support the human exploration of Mars is the surface habitat. This proposal will use physical chemical technologies to produce high density polyethylene (HDPE) inflatable structures and construction materials from Mars atmospheric CO2. The formation of polyethylene from Mars CO2 is based on the use of the Sabatier and modified Fischer Tropsch reactions. The proposed system will fully integrate with existing in-situ propellant production concepts. The technology will also be capable of supplementing human caloric requirements, providing solid and liquid fuels for energy storage, and providing significant reduction in mission risk. The NASA Mars Reference Mission Definition Team estimated that a conventional Mars surface habitat structure would weigh 10 tonnes. It is estimated that this technology could reduce this mass by 80%. This reduction in mass will significantly contribute to the reduction in total mission cost need to make a Mars mission a reality. In addition the potential reduction of risk provided by the ability to produce C4 and potentially higher carbon based materials in-situ on Mars is significant. Food, fuel, and shelter are only three of many requirements that would be impacted by this research.

A method is described by which silicon photovoltaic (PV) devices can be directly deposited onto the lunar regolith using primarily lunar materials. In sequence, a robotic “crawler” moving at slow speed sequentially melts the top layer of regolith and deposits a conducting layer, a doped silicon, a top conducting grid, and an antireflective coating by vacuum evaporation techniques. Concentrated solar energy is utilized as the energy source. Development of this capability would significantly lower the cost of electrical energy on the Moon and would enable a range of other activities, including lower cost propellant production, human outposts with complete food-growth capabilities, and advanced materials production. Low cost energy could affect the economics of propellants in space by allowing the extraction of solar wind hydrogen from the lunar regolith. This would allow the economical export of propellants and other materials to space, first to an Earth-Moon Lagrangian Point and potentially to low Earth orbit.

We present results of a program which was performed to demonstrate the feasibility of one or more processes for the direct and/or indirect conversion of carbon dioxide and water to ethylene. Our program addressed the requirements topic “Spacecraft Life Support Infrastructure.” It focused on catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with hydrogen using modified Fischer-Tropsch processes to demonstrate ethylene synthesis. Benefits of this approach to the development of modified life support systems are (1) major weight savings resulting from reduced on-board requirements for spacecraft and transport requirements for planetary bases, e.g., Earth to Mars, and (2) conversion of two metabolic wastes, carbon dioxide and water, to ethylene, a key building block for a variety of useful materials, including ethanol, a high caloric nutrient source for organisms for the support of Astrobiology research and foodstuff synthesis based on engineering principles rather than life processes. The specific purpose of our research was to investigate the synthesis of ethylene by two chemical processes, one direct, one indirect. The direct process is based on the catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with hydrogen at ca. 300°C (572°F) to form ethylene and other C, compounds. The indirect process is based on the catalytic reformation of methane in the presence of oxygen at ca. 800°C (1472°F) to form ethylene and other C, compounds. The preparation of ethylene opens the way to the preparation of other useful products on manned spacecraft and planetary bases, e.g., ethanol for use as a nutrient to support Astrobiology research programs, polyethylene and Copyright