JSC Environmental Testing of a Mars Primary SOFC Power System Technology (JET - Mars Power)

The purpose of the project is to prepare for and execute environmental testing as part of an evaluation of a “turn-key” aerospace solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system developed by OxEon Energy, LLC and Precision Combustion, Inc., the providers of the test article, under contract awards Phase III 80NSSC25C0454 and Phase III 80NSSC25C0449. The evaluation will take place at the Energy Systems Test Area (ESTA) within the Johnson Space Center (JSC), specifically in facilities located in Buildings TBD. The testing protocol involves assessing system performance and device under test (DUT) integrity through a series of environmental tests, including thermal vacuum, orientation, shock, and vibration assessments. The primary objective of this ground-based evaluation is to generate performance data for the SOFC system to determine its capability to be launched from Earth in a dormant state and subsequently transition to an operational state, supplying electrical power to a landing vehicle from Mars orbit through descent and surface operations until the reactant supply of unused propellant is depleted. More specifically, the study aims to evaluate the SOFC system’s functionality in a Mars-analog environment, with particular focus on the descent and initial surface phases of a Mars lander mission, and its operation using propellant-grade oxygen (;98% O2) rather than atmospheric air (20.5% O2). This assessment includes environmental testing of up to two “turn-key” 2 kW SOFC units to evaluate their performance and durability under simulated Martian conditions. It is important to emphasize that, as noted in DRA 5.0, this testing does not involve flight hardware or any components intended for eventual flight deployment

This study presents significant benefits by reducing technical risks and enabling the evaluation of technology gaps pertinent to future Mars missions through a comprehensive ground-based examination of an aerospace solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system under environmental conditions that simulate those on Mars. The assessment validates the system’s ability to withstand launch in a dormant state and to reliably transition to an active operational mode, thereby supplying electrical power during critical mission phases such as descent and initial surface operations. By generating performance and durability data from thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, and orientation tests, the research bolsters confidence in the SOFC’s robustness and minimal operational power output profile. Additionally, the evaluation demonstrates the feasibility of operating the SOFC using propellant-grade oxygen rather than atmospheric air, thereby enabling efficient utilization of residual spacecraft propellant resources. Collectively, this work advances the technological readiness and applicability of SOFC power systems for planetary exploration missions without the need for flight hardware deployment.

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