PNNL Seeks Maxi Space Exploration Via Mini Technology

http://www.pnl.gov/news/2005/05-34.htm

Release date: May 6, 2005
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Contact: Geoffrey Harvey
(509) 372-6083

PNNL seeks maxi space exploration via mini technology

Lab to develop more economical and reliable space travel

RICHLAND, Wash. - Images of deep space exploration in old sci-fi movies
will take one giant leap toward reality as Battelle scientists
manipulate microtechnology to produce rocket propellant in space and
breathing oxygen for interplanetary travel, thanks to new funding from
NASA.

Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash.,
which is operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy, will launch
the development of a lightweight and extraordinarily compact system for
NASA applications. These microchemical and thermal systems, also known
as MicroCATS, configure such things as microchannel absorbers,
reactors,
separators and heat exchangers to produce the propellant from resources
found on Mars and the moon. In addition, the system also will be
designed to regenerate breathable air for life support. The NASA
contract is valued at $13.7 million over four years.

"Further development of the microchannel architecture makes this all
feasible," says Kriston Brooks, PNNL principal investigator. "Our
ultimate goal is then to use the same microtechnology principles on a
larger scale to provide propellant for a manned mission to Mars in the
2030 timeframe."

PNNL's mission supports the President's new vision for space
exploration. President Bush pledged to return to the moon by 2020 in
preparation for future human exploration of Mars and other distant
destinations in his January 2004 address at NASA headquarters.

"The contract is four times larger than any PNNL has previously had
with
NASA," says Martin Kress, Battelle's NASA relationship manager. "We
hope
this technology system ushers in an entirely new approach for lunar and
Martian exploration and habitation," Kress added.

The compact microtechnology processing station, referred to as ISPP,
the
In Situ Propellant Production system, will collect carbon dioxide from
the Martian atmosphere and have it react with hydrogen gas to produce
methane fuel and oxygen forming the propellant for the return voyage.
"Additionally, by collecting and reconditioning exhaled air, the system
will produce pure oxygen for crew members; a problem that nearly doomed
the Apollo 13 mission," noted Brooks. Both methane and oxygen also can
be used to generate electrical power for vital life support systems
making this capability central to a manned outer space infrastructure.

"Since the system uses modular banks of identical microchannel
components, there is a built-in redundancy achieving enhanced safety
and
reliability," stated Brooks. "We anticipate increased system efficiency
as well as improved economic benefits when the research is complete."

Microchannel technology generally has at least one dimension that is
200
microns or less in size - a human hair is about 20-50 microns. Due to
improved heat and mass transfer rates, the microtechnology process can
be intensified, resulting in significant size reductions over
conventional hardware. At these small scales, hydrodynamic, surface,
and
interfacial forces dominate, allowing the devices to operate
independent
of gravity. Gravity independence and reduced size and weight make
microtechnology an ideal candidate for many NASA applications.

"We also hope to demonstrate the concept of making use of resources
found both on the moon and Mars, not only for propellant and breathing
air, but ultimately to build a community in space," says Brooks. "For
instance, silica, iron and titanium retrieved from soil on the moon
could be used to produce photovoltaics capable of generating
electricity, and producing metals for building construction and other
manufacturing processes." Brooks admits that these capabilities are
still conceptual, but says that by demonstrating the next generation of
microchannel technology for ISPP, researchers may be able to advance
these capabilities as well.

The technology's system components will be tested individually, as well
as in a combined integrated system in a single "bread-board"
configuration. The analysis will be performed at NASA centers using an
atmospheric chamber to simulate the low temperatures and extremely low
atmospheric pressure typical of Mars and the moon, and using reduced
gravity parabolic flights to simulate low gravity.

PNNL will coordinate parts of this research with Oregon State
University
via the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute. MBI is a collaboration
between PNNL and OSU, and is affiliated with ONAMI, the Oregon
Nanoscience and Microtechnology Institute.

PNNL is a DOE Office of Science
laboratory that solves complex problems in energy, national security,
the environment and life sciences by advancing the understanding of
physics, chemistry, biology and computation. PNNL employs more than
4,000 staff, has a $650 million annual budget, and has been managed by
Ohio-based Battelle since the lab's inception in 1965.