Compact Integrated Sorting Technology for Oxygen and Regolith Treatment (CISORT)

CISORT (Compact Integrated Sorting Technology) is an advanced lunar regolith beneficiation system addressing critical ISRU challenges by delivering a compact (<25 kg), high-throughput and efficiency instrument capable of separating key minerals, including ilmenite, KREEP components, and water-ice. Leveraging innovative vibrational size sorting and magnetic separation technologies, CISORT achieves a 3x improvement in resource concentration efficiency and up to 70% energy savings compared to conventional electrostatic and chemical processing methods. This system is designed to enable scalable, autonomous resource processing directly on the Moon, reducing the mass and energy demands of ISRU operations. During Phase II, we will develop a TRL 5 prototype optimized for deployment on CLPS missions. Advanced modeling using Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations, validated by vacuum testing and parabolic flight experiments, will ensure that adjustable parameters—such as vibration amplitude, magnetic field strength, and chute angle—meet the dynamic challenges of 1/6-g lunar conditions. The system will achieve mineral and ice separations with >98% purity, directly enhancing downstream oxygen and metal extraction processes while minimizing waste sent to energy-intensive chemical reactors. CISORT addresses gaps in NASA’s ISRU roadmap by demonstrating regolith flowability, coarse/fine fractionation, and magnetic beneficiation in a scalable and flight-ready system. Target markets include NASA’s Moon-to-Mars objectives, commercial lunar ventures, and industrial ISRU stakeholders. CISORT’s transformative approach supports sustainable lunar exploration, reduces Earth-launch mass dependency, and accelerates the development of a robust lunar economy.

CISORT’s innovative lunar regolith processing technology advances NASA’s mission by enhancing ISRU capabilities essential for sustainable lunar exploration and habitation. Phase I testing demonstrated that CISORT reliably isolates high-purity mineral fractions—including oxygen-bearing ilmenite, water ice analogs, and other metals—from lunar regolith simulants using integrated vibrational size sorting and magnetic separation. By employing optimized chute geometries (12°–15°), vibration frequencies (75–90 Hz), and a feed rate of 5 liter per hour, our tests achieved 75–85% enrichment of target minerals, validating CISORT as a scalable, compact (<25 kg), and adaptable payload for CLPS missions under Artemis. By maximizing in-situ resource extraction, CISORT significantly reduces the need for Earth-supplied materials. Extensive laboratory tests using high-speed imaging, IMU sensor data, and mass flow measurements showed that CISORT maintains high throughput while dynamically adapting to the variable mineralogy across lunar terrains—whether from highland anorthosites, mare basalts, or impact ejecta. Enhanced beneficiation lowers energy and mass requirements for downstream oxygen, water, and metal extraction, directly cutting processing costs. Moreover, CISORT’s mechanical beneficiation approach consumes up to 70% less energy than conventional thermal or chemical methods. Its advanced autonomous control system, featuring integrated imaging and sensor arrays, enables real-time adjustments based on local mineralogical variations caused by asteroid impacts, volcanic activity, and differences between Mare and Highlands. This technological advancement not only optimizes resource extraction efficiency but also lays a robust foundation for future pilot-scale ISRU hardware supporting extended lunar operations and eventual Mars missions. CISORT's lunar regolith processing technology could underpin NASA’s lunar and Martian exploration missions but also unlocks substantial commercialization opportunities across the burgeoning space economy and related industries. By integrating high-throughput vibrational sorting with adaptive magnetic separation, CISORT efficiently isolates high-purity mineral fractions from regolith—achieving up to 75–85% enrichment of key minerals such as ilmenite and KREEP constituents. This advanced beneficiation capability significantly reduces the energy and mass requirements for subsequent extraction processes, thereby lowering overall operational costs. For commercial space mining enterprises, CISORT offers a transformative solution for extracting valuable resources from the Moon, asteroids, and Mars. Its scalability and low power consumption make it an attractive option for in-space manufacturing and construction, directly supporting the production of oxygen, water, and metals. Private entities engaged in developing lunar bases for research, tourism, or commercial activities can leverage CISORT to manufacture building materials directly from local regolith, minimizing the logistics and expense of Earth-to-Moon transport. Space habitat companies can integrate CISORT into their supply chains to secure essential materials for habitat construction, life support, and propellant production from indigenous lunar or Martian soils. Furthermore, the innovations driving CISORT’s vibrational and magnetic separation processes have promising terrestrial applications in industries such as mining, recycling, and construction, where efficient material separation is vital for reducing costs and environmental impact. By addressing the diverse needs of both space and Earth-based sectors, CISORT is poised to become a cornerstone technology in the commercial space industry, facilitating the expansion of human activities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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