Transforms Lunar Or Martian Regolith Into Materials For Self-Sustainment

Blue Origin announced that its Blue Alchemist resource utilization system successfully completed its Critical Design Review, a landmark achievement in the quest to expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth. Blue Alchemist provides a means to turn the Moon, and eventually Mars, into self-sustaining environments by transforming surface materials into usable resources to support robots and humans.

The innovative system transforms the regolith of the Moon, and eventually Mars, into locally-made solar power systems, oxygen for both breathing and refueling propellant, metals, and construction materials to build near-term, low-cost bases and settlements.

The Molten Regolith Electrolysis reactor is capable of extracting materials like iron, silicon, glass, and ceramics to produce planetary infrastructure such as construction materials and electronics, solar cells and panels, connecting wire, and windows.

This capability represents a foundational shift in space exploration where, instead of bringing materials from Earth at great cost, future missions can build what will be needed using the resources available on the Moon or Mars.

Pat Remias, Vice President, Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering for Blue Origin said, “Blue Alchemist changes everything about how we approach space. It is the foundation for a sustainable robotic and human presence across the solar system. Each kilogram of oxygen we make on the lunar surface is one less that we have to launch from Earth, making it a giant leap toward permanent settlements as well as critical resources for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

Blue Origin says it is on track to reduce the cost of lunar landings by 60% and reduce fuel cell/battery mass by 70% by refueling with oxygen derived from lunar regolith. Blue Alchemist removes the need to haul immense amounts of supplies from Earth, and enables a sustained presence on the Moon as well as bringing Mars exploration closer to reality.

The Blue Alchemist project is supported by a NASA Tipping Point award through the agency’s Game Changing Development program managed by its Space Technology Mission Directorate.

FMI:  www.blueorigin.com/