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Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
The proposed work would develop a design for a laboratory breadboard system for the measurement and collection of solar wind implanted volatiles, released due to particle-particle and particle-surface interactions during the beneficiation and conveying of regolith, in a lunar ISRU system. The collected hydrogen could be used as propellant and the collected helium-3, a nationally recognized strategic isotope, could be stockpiled for future shipment to Earth.
The potential impact of the proposed technology development on future NASA missions include: *Increase in volatile collection efficiency for future lunar ISRU plants *Storage of lunar 3He that could be returned to and sold on Earth for ~$30M/kg, potentially helping to offset lunar infrastructure development costs for NASA and its partners. *Moon-to-Mars: Lunar Infrastructure (LI) Goal 7: Demonstrate industrial scale ISRU capabilities in support of continuous human lunar presence and a robust lunar economy.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.
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