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Contaminant Robust System for Oxygen Production from Lunar Regolith

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX10CE45P
Agency Tracking Number: 095470
Amount: $99,949.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X3.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-01-29
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-07-29
Small Business Information
3481 E. Michigan Street
Tucson, AZ 85714-2221
United States
DUNS: 837002294
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Christine Iacomini
 Principal Investigator
 (520) 382-4824
 ciacomini@paragonsdc.com
Business Contact
 Carole Hammond
Title: Business Official
Phone: (520) 382-4814
Email: chammond@paragonsdc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The necessity of oxygen for consumption by human inhabitants on the lunar surface is readily apparent. NASA is pursuing several ways to generate oxygen from lunar regolith and reduce reliance on Earth for consumable re-supply. The most mature method is via hydrogen reduction. Paragon SDC proposes an innovative method for removing the problematic acidic contaminates from the water vapor compound released during the first stage of the hydrogen reduction process. This innovation also includes a subsequent high temperature water electrolysis technology that is insensitive to dissolved ions, should they persist beyond the acid scrubber. The final product of this system could essentially produce a source of oxygen using almost only in situ resources including lunar regolith (assumed to contain trace amounts of hydrogen) and sunlight. The process could be built to require very little crew interaction and is planned to be highly resistive to harsh chemical interactions. Further, the high temperature electrolysis proposed produces pure, dry oxygen making it a very appealing solution to the challenges facing ISRU programs in generating oxygen from lunar regolith.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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