Sierra Space advances lunar oxygen extraction technology for long-term habitation

Sierra Space advances lunar oxygen extraction technology for long-term habitation
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 20, 2024

Sierra Space, a prominent player in commercial space ventures and defense technologies, has announced the successful testing of its Carbothermal Oxygen Production Reactor. This proprietary system, tested in NASA's Johnson Space Center thermal vacuum chamber, marks the first instance of oxygen being extracted from simulated lunar soil in a lunar-like environment using a standalone automated system. The technology is designed to be scaled up for mass oxygen production, supporting NASA's Artemis program in establishing a sustainable presence on the moon.

"The Apollo program took us to the moon to study and learn. Artemis is taking us back to the moon, this time to stay," explained Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. "Our company is focused on building the infrastructure necessary to enable continuous human presence on the lunar surface. This sustainable future begins with developing the core technology and systems that create oxygen in that environment, using local natural resources."

Throughout August, Sierra Space test engineers operated the oxygen extraction system in a simulated lunar environment, replicating conditions similar to the moon's south pole. The system effectively handled lunar regolith simulant, executed the oxygen-extracting carbothermal reduction reaction, and withstood extreme temperatures ranging from minus 45 C to 1,800 C.

The technology, developed at Sierra Space's Madison, Wisconsin facilities, is a significant step toward long-term human settlement on the moon. The company's work in building large expandable space modules and environmental systems is also part of this broader effort to establish sustainable lunar infrastructure.

"This latest testing validates that the technologies and techniques developed and employed in the Sierra Space oxygen extraction system would work on the lunar surface," said Shawn Buckley, Vice President of Space Destinations Systems at Sierra Space. The system has now reached Technology Readiness Level Six (TRL-6), indicating it is ready for incorporation into a flight mission as a technology demonstrator.

Sierra Space's reactor efficiently handled the abrasive nature of the lunar regolith and ensured the containment of gases within the system, aided by a patent-pending valve design capable of handling over 10,000 cycles.

"By harnessing the natural resources found on the moon, we reduce our reliance on Earth-based supplies and open up new frontiers for space exploration and commercialization," Vice added. The oxygen produced by this system could support both human life and propulsion needs, significantly impacting space exploration efforts and reducing future Mars mission costs.

Additionally, Sierra Space is collaborating with DARPA on the 10-Year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) capability study, aiming to integrate oxygen extraction with other technologies like electrical storage and chemical recycling to build a commercial lunar infrastructure.