Plasmas for ISRU and gas conversion on Mars*

This work explores the potential of using non-thermal plasmas for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) on Mars, enabling the direct conversion of various molecules from the Martian atmosphere into essential feedstocks and base chemicals. These conversions are crucial for producing fuels, breathable oxygen, building materials, and fertilizers. Motivated by the importance of nitrogen fixation in fertilizer production and oxygen generation from CO₂ dissociation, we conducted extensive and detailed investigations into the mechanisms governing nitric oxide NO(X) formation in N₂-O₂ plasmas and atomic oxygen O(³P) production in CO₂ plasmas. This research involves systematic comparisons of experimental results and modeling data. While the experimental phase capitalizes on studies targeted at understanding radiofrequency and microwave plasma discharges sustained at 5 mbar pressure conditions, our modeling approach integrates the solution of the Boltzmann equation for electrons with a system of rate balance equations for heavy species in the plasma, providing a detailed description associated with the kinetics, transport and volume-surface interactions.