MIT Research Could Lead to Refueling Depots on Mars

MIT graduate student Lani McKinney and the Aerospace Plasma Group are building the NRP-DBD reactor, which uses cold plasma to convert carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere into oxygen and carbon monoxide for life support and fuel depots. An oxygen-selective membrane prevents CO and O from recombining.

• NRP-DBD reactor splits CO2 from Martian atmosphere into oxygen and carbon monoxide
• Oxygen-selective membrane quickly removes O, preventing recombination with CO
• MIT team received $775,000 for waste processing system under NASA LunaRecycle
• Technology needed for fuel depots and returning crews from Mars to Earth