Mars in situ resource utilization: a review

We provide a review of the development of systems to utilize natural resources on Mars to enable advanced missions. We review the rationale, history, available resources, systems technologies and an on-going NASA program to mature a selected integrated system. Key literature is referenced throughout. Our coverage is NASA-centric and focuses on relatively mature technologies. This approach to space flight, named in situ resource utilization (ISRU), forms an important element in NASA's plans to accomplish human missions to explore and pioneer the planet Mars. The approaches described herein are formulated around the proposed and evolving architecture for such a mission campaign. These same types of systems could however be used for robotic exploration such as a sample return mission. ISRU is a very immature space technology having never flown in space before although some potential components such as cryo-coolers and Sabatier reactors have. As such, it is imperative to pursue the development and maturation of this technology because of the key role it plays in enabling the first human missions and its essential role in supporting any kind of long-term human occupation. The intent of this review is to provide engineers and mission designers with a comprehensive introduction to the current state-of-the-art with the hope of facilitating its further development and integration into the many interconnected space systems including propulsion, power, life support, mobility, and planetary scientific research.