Project Tethys: Extracting Water from the Martian Environment

For many years, space organizations on Earth have studied, planned, and prepared for a crewed mission on Mars. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has conducted numerous investigative missions to understand the red planet, including space rovers, conceptual design studies, and chemical analyses of Martian regolith samples. Furthermore, many companies, such as SpaceX, have been developing Martian settlement plans and designs for vehicles that can transport astronauts to Mars. Nevertheless, even though numerous organizations are preparing prototypes and contingency plans for future human missions to Mars, there are still many questions that scientists must answer for this goal to become a reality, such as the expedition site's altitude, elevation, and potential resources for the mission. However, all the known potential water sources for future human habitations on Mars exist either in the Martian subsurface in the mid-latitudes or in the planet's poles and are likely contaminated by perchlorate and other soluble salts. Therefore, determining the astronauts' water supply will be crucial to the success of a mission to Mars. During my bachelor's thesis, I performed preliminary research regarding the potential processes that could be used for Martian water purification. After evaluating sublimation, reverse osmosis, and progressive freeze concentration, I concluded that progressive freeze concentration (or directional solidification) would be one of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective methods to purify the Martian brine. I reached this conclusion after encountering the elevated energy demands required for sublimation and reverse osmosis to succeed. In addition, reverse osmosis would not be viable due to the high probability of the magnesium perchlorate reacting with the osmotic membrane at high concentrations. Once I reached this conclusion and had selected a magnesium perchlorate simulant due to its abundance on Mars and its toxicity to humans, I conducted experiments to observe how different rates of cooling and disparate means of temperature control affected the process's success without using a mixing apparatus during the experiments. After testing and data analysis, I found that to optimize the freeze crystallization within the prototype, we must control the solution's cooling to cause directional solidification, potentially through more consistent temperature control. To implement these parameters, we must create an environment with negligible diffusion in the solid and a homogeneous solution in the liquid phase. When comparing these findings with theory, we find that a slower cooling rate and better temperature control prevent brine entrapment within the solid phase. Therefore, to provide an initial water source for future crew members on Mars, Project Tethys aims to develop a prototype that converts Martian brine simulants into potable water. To achieve this goal, I will first research the site requirements, mission constraints, and simulants that can represent a diverse range of potential Martian ice compositions. Next, I will design and model a prototype that addresses all previously designated simulants and site criteria. After the prototyping is complete, I will verify and validate the prototype through laboratory experiments and data analysis. Finally, I will propose methods and practices to optimize the prototype's future use for the Moon and Mars. By completing the four previously mentioned research objectives, I will develop a dissertation containing all of Project Tethys's findings and a functional Martian water purification prototype as my project's deliverables. Considering the project's focus on the advancement of space technology in the realm of Martian in situ resource utilization, Project Tethys would contribute to future NASA missions by providing a potable water source for astronauts on Mars and supporting initial human campaigns on Mars for space exploration.

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