THE RELEVANCE OF MARS SAMPLES TO PLANNING FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE IN-SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION.

Abstract

Considerable recent planning has focused on the potential importance of Mars in-situ resources to support future human missions. While atmospheric CO2 provides a source of oxygen [1], the regolith offers other potential resources [2]. The most significant surface asset is water, which could be used for propellant generation [3], life support, habitat sustainment, and agriculture [4]. In regard to the latter, the regolith could also provide a source of nutrients to supplement terrestrial fertilizers and/or act as a substrate to buffer plant roots. Local material could also be used as feedstock for construction, including for structures, roads, and additive manufacturing [5]. Native salts (e.g. perchlorates or chlorides) in the Martian regolith could be used as water absorbents for closed loop life support systems or for capture of the limited atmospheric water. Any of these in-situ processes would require definition of the resources to influence equipment design and resource budgeting. Exploration via orbital and landed surveys as well as technical demonstrations would be necessary. Mars sample return could play a key role in supporting this planning, especially when considering possible long-term human presence. The goal of the International MSR Objectives & Samples Team (iMOST) is to define the objectives that could be met using returned martian samples, and identify the types of samples needed to meet those objectives. In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is one of the six iMOST objectives, and this document summarizes the needs specified therein.