Advanced Oxygen Recovery via Series-Bosch Technology

Advanced oxygen recovery life support for Martian transit and surface missions constitutes a variety of possible architectures. Over the last several years, NASA has pursued development of a two-step Bosch-based system called Series-Bosch (S-Bosch) to enable maximum recovery of oxygen from metabolic carbon dioxide. The first step of the process involves the Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction. Two RWGS reactors, one developed at NASA and the other developed at Precision Combustion, Inc. have been assembled for the S-Bosch. The RWGS reactors were each tested to evaluate and compare general operational performance and fouling resistance. A down-select was completed to identify the reactor to be used in an integrated S-Bosch system. The second step in the S-Bosch process is carbon deposition. A carbon formation reactor (CFR) based on Martian regolith simulant as a catalyst was designed and tested for performance. Because the regolith will only be available once the crew arrives on the Martian surface, a second catalyst was evaluated for transit phases. Finally, integrated testing of an S-Bosch system was completed, leading to a technology readiness level (TRL) advancement of the S-Bosch system to TRL 4. The results of the RWGS down-select, CFR testing, and TRL evaluation are reported and discussed.