Use the water: In-situ resource technology for icy-surface landers |
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| Authors: | Sanjoy M Som Zachary R Adam Steve Vance |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;2. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;3. Astrobiology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;1. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, United States;2. SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States;3. U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225, United States;1. Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon, UMR 5276 CNRS, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 46 allee d’Italie, 69364 Lyon, France;2. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France;3. Unité Matériaux et Transformation, UMR 8207, CNRS – Université Lille 1, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France;1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA;2. Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil;2. Department of Mobility Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 89218-035 Joinville, SC, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Robotic landers serve vital reconnaissance roles in the exploration of planetary surfaces, but are constrained by deliverable payload size and environment survivability. Although the Mars exploration rovers (MER) have shown incredible survivability, their solar power source limits the science output per sol. Future landers will be larger, and will incorporate more sophisticated data-collection and analysis packages, which will likely bring with them an increased demand for power. Anticipating this demand, we propose an innovative hybrid power system combining a primary radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) with a secondary alkaline fuel cell. This combination provides the opportunity to utilize more effectively the energy produced by the RTG, to produce and store O2 and H2 via electrolysis of melted ice, and use this obtained O2 and H2 in a variety of ways, including as fuel for a regenerative fuel cell. This hybrid system has applications ranging from planetary rovers and deep-space probes to human habitats. |
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