Oxygen production via carbothermal reduction of lunar regolith
Abstract
The Moon is composed of a variety of oxygen-bearing minerals, providing a virtually unlimited quantity of raw material that can be processed to produce oxygen. One attractive method to extract oxygen from the lunar regolith is the carbothermal reduction process. This paper discusses recent development work conducted through the PILOT project under the NASA OPTIMA program. The OPTIMA test program utilizes a modular technology suite of ISRU excavation, oxygen extraction, oxygen storage, and oxygen distribution hardware sized to be consistent with the draft Constellation requirements for oxygen extraction from the regolith to support the early lunar outpost (1 MT O2/year).
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Subsequent experiments with 550-600 W of power resulted in maximum melt masses of 33 g and oxygen yields of 2.6 wt%, highlighting the crucial role of power levels in optimizing the oxygen extraction process.
“Subsequent experiments with 550-600 W of power resulted in maximum melt masses of 33 g and oxygen yields of 2.6 wt%, highlighting the crucial role of power levels in optimizing the oxygen extraction process.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [88]
The 2010 field demonstration achieved an oxygen extraction rate of 1.45 g per kilowatt-hour (g/KWh) delivered to the reactor.
“The 2010 field demonstration [88,90] achieved an oxygen extraction rate of 1.45 g per kilowatt-hour (g/KWh) delivered to the reactor.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [88]
In one test, conducted for 80 min with approximately 700 W of solar power, the processed simulant produced a melt with a diameter of 53.3 mm and a mass of 77.6 g, achieving an oxygen yield of 11.3 wt%.
“In one test, conducted for 80 min with approximately 700 W of solar power, the processed simulant produced a melt with a diameter of 53.3 mm and a mass of 77.6 g, achieving an oxygen yield of 11.3 wt%.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [88]
Through extensive carbothermal reduction experiments utilizing direct energy heating, ORBITEC achieved oxygen yields up to 28 wt%.
“Through extensive carbothermal reduction experiments utilizing direct energy heating, ORBITEC achieved oxygen yields up to 28 wt%.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [88]
The regolith samples processed had very low carbon content, ranging from 0 to 0.03 wt%, corresponding to a maximum carbon loss of only 1.7 kg per metric ton of oxygen produced.
“Despite this challenge, the regolith samples processed had very low carbon content, ranging from 0 to 0.03 wt%, corresponding to a maximum carbon loss of only 1.7 kg per metric ton of oxygen produced.”
From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [88]
Cites
Carbon-based reduction of lunar oxides for oxygen production
Rice, E. E., Hermes, P., Musbah, O. A., et al. (1997) · AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit · doi:10.2514/6.1997-890 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Carbon-Based Reduction of Lunar Regolith (CRLR)
Rice, E. E., Gustafson, R. J., & JORDAN, J. H. (2001) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
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A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction
Azami, M., Kazemi, Z., Moazen, S., Dubé, M., Potvin, M.-J., & Skonieczny, K. (2024) · Progress in Aerospace Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2024.101045 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gustafson, R. J., White, B. C., & Fidler, M. J.
- Affiliations
- Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC)
- Venue
- SAE International Journal of Aerospace
- Publisher
- SAE International
- Published
- 2009-07-12
- Volume
- 04
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 311-316
- ISSN
- 1946-3855 (ISSN-L)
- 1946-3901
- OpenAlex
- W2275390085
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- SAE International Journal of Aerospace (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Space Exploration and Technology
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Chemical Looping and Thermochemical Processes
- Keywords
- lunar regolith, oxygen extraction, carbothermal reduction, in-situ resource utilization, lunar base, oxygen storage, pilot project
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