Clara (previously Prototech) and CERTH awarded contract for production of fuel and oxygen from lunar and Martian resources

It has been confirmed in the past years that water is presented at the lunar poles as mixture regolith and ice. These water resources can be extracted and converted to hydrogen and oxygen through splitting of the water molecule using electrical energy, a process well known as electrolysis. However, since the lunar water resources are very dirty, containing elements as frozen ammonia and methane as well as sulphur elements, traditional electrolysis technology will require an energy-intensive purification process upfront. Thus, ESA has selected high temperature electrolysis using the solid oxide cell (SOC) technology as the most promising candidate for this operation. The SOC technology operate at 800°C with steam instead of liquid water, and with significant lower energy input than water electrolysis carried out below 100°C. Within the actual contract, Clara and CERTH will carry out a proof of concept for SOC electrolyser operating under relevant lunar conditions. In case of success, the activity will continue with scaling up the technology and make it suitable for space flights.

In parallel, there is a dedicated activity that includes the SOC electrolyser technology on missions to Mars. Underground seas of water have been identified and as a consequence of the high temperature, the SOC electrolyser can also split CO2 into carbon monoxide and oxygen. These elements are essential to produce fuel for return flight or oxygen for life support. The atmosphere on Mars consists of 95% CO2 and the SOC technology can make oxygen available all over the red planet.