A Process Plant for Producing Rocket Fuel From Lunar Ice
Abstract One of, if not the most, valuable resources on the Moon is ice. Since the late 1990’s evidence has been accumulating that supports the presence of water ice at both the north and south lunar poles. Although consumption of water is critical to sustaining human life, water can also serve as a feedstock to produce rocket fuel. Water may be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen which, when liquified, serves as a propellant for space travel. This paper investigates the process and energy demand for producing liquid hydrogen and oxygen from lunar ice. A preliminary flow sheet and discussion of unit operations for a lunar rocket fuel plant are provided. Sources of energy on the Moon, as well as design of structures, systems and components for the facility are considered.