ISRU-ISRU Hydrogen Oxygen Production (IHOP-BAA)

The ISRU-ISRU Hydrogen Oxygen Production-BAA task aims to develop and test the integrated performance of water purification and hydrogen-oxygen production components. This project will:

1. produce a TRL 5 Ionomer-membrane Water Processor (IWP) that can purify water extracted from lunar regolith that has been captured by an upstream cold trap,
2. produce a TRL 5 water electrolyzer that can generate hydrogen and oxygen streams from the water provided by an upstream purification processor that can operate for the length of time and survive the freeze/thaw cycles expected on the lunar surface, and
3. integrate the water purification unit with the electrolysis unit and test the integrated subsystem over a long duration.

Currently, no water cleanup system exists to remove potential contaminants in ice and water extracted from the lunar surface. Also, no PEM electrolyzer yet exists to generate O2 and H2 from lunar water and that functions for 2 years in the lunar environment. The TRL 5 hardware delivered will meet key production metrics of 1.34 kg/hr of H2O, 0.14 kg/hr of H2, and 1.16 kg/hr O2. As of the submission date of this SPAR update, a TRL 5 Ionomer-membrane Water Processor (IWP) and a TRL 4 water electrolyzer have been achieved. However, because of technical difficulties with testing the water purification unit that contains the Ionomer-membrane Water Processor (IWP), long duration testing of the integrated IHOP subsystem composed of the water purification unit and the electrolysis unit was not achieved during the Option Period. Thus, TRL 5 of the water electrolyzer was not achieved as planned.

This is a new integrated technology/capability to enable future human exploration of the Moon and Mars that does not now exist. This technology can be used in a Lunar IRSU pilot plant to demonstrate the capability to purify water extracted from regolith to make it safe for astronauts, and also for electrolysis to produce streams of oxygen and hydrogen for propellant. This project leverages Paragon Ionomer-membrane bundle technology used in the Boeing crew transport vehicle to develop the water clean-up processor. The technology developed by this project has both Exploration & Science applicability. It provides a water purification processor upstream of water electrolyzer for a future ISRU plant that cleans up and removes contaminants observed by the LCROSS mission. The project also provides an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen and oxygen for propellant in the harsh lunar environment for a long duration using the lunar water cleaned up by the upstream purification processor.

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.