← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)
The SpaceCraft Oxygen Recovery (SCOR) project is developing advanced technologies to recover oxygen from carbon dioxide, with the potential to fully recycle oxygen from carbon dioxide. SCOR is developing two uniquely different technologies in parallel. The Continuous Bosch Reactor reacts carbon dioxide with hydrogen, yielding water and solid carbon. The second technology under development, Methane Pyrolysis by Carbon Vapor Deposition, will potentially double the efficiency of the state-of-the-art (SOA) Sabatier Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly, by recovering hydrogen from methane waste byproducts and returning it to the Sabatier to react with additional carbon dioxide. SCOR also has a systems integration and analysis function that performs systems analysis, kinetic and thermal modeling, trade studies, and experiments investigating subsystem integration.
The SpaceCraft Oxygen Recovery (SCOR) Project is developing technologies that have the potential to nearly double the recovery of oxygen from metabolically produced carbon dioxide than the current state-of-the-art. Our goal is to make possible full recycling of the cabin atmosphere in space habitats and vehicles, which will be enabling for long duration human exploration away from Earth. This will increase the level of autonomy and sustainability of future human spacecraft, especially for those missions away from Earth with limited or no capability for resupply.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.