Comparative Assessment of Delivering Consumable Resources versus In-Situ Resource Utilization for Moon and Mars Habitats Life Support Systems

This paper will estimate oxygen, nitrogen and water resupply needs for a crewed lunar or Martian surface habitat, assuming relevant mission parameters, current ISS levels of loop closure, assumptions on leakage and venting and the addition of laundry and shower facilities. The paper will then identify lunar and Mars ECLS ISRU candidates and trade ISRU vs. delivery of supplies from earth. Lunar ISRU candidates include water and oxygen from putative lunarpolar ice deposits. Mars ISRU candidates include water, oxygen from ice and nitrogen/argon/oxygen from atmospheric constituents. For given assumptions a crossover point for each constituent will be identified where it will become more advantageous to seek ISRU solutions rather than re-supply from earth.