A hybrid plasma technology life support system for the generation of oxygen on Mars: Considerations on materials and geometry

摘要

As there is a growing interest in conducting human missions to Mars, the need for suitable life support systems becomes more and more important. The reliability of such systems has to increase with the duration of manned missions. Furthermore the maintenance requirements have to be low in order to ensure their efficient use over a long period of time. A proposal for a hybrid life support system that is based on plasma technology for the creation of oxygen from the dissociation of carbon dioxide is given in this paper. The main focus lies on geometrical considerations regarding the optimal shape of the main reactor chamber as well as on suitable materials, which are most promising for the construction of such a system. (C) 2016 IAA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.