Development of In-Situ Consumable Production (ISCP) for Mars Robotic and Human Exploration at the NASA/Johnson Space Center

The ability to use local resources to “live off the land”, commonly referred to as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), is essential in establishing a long-term human presence and enabling the commercial development of space. The chief benefits of ISRU are that it can reduce the mass, cost, and risk of robotic and human exploration while providing capabilities that enable the commercial development of space. A key subset of ISRU which has significant cost and risk reduction benefits, and which requires a minimum of infrastructure, is In-Situ Consumable Production (ISCP). ISCP involves acquiring, manufacturing, and storing propellants, fuel cell reagents, and consumables for life support, scientific, and pneumatic equipment using resources available at the site of exploration. The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is currently coordinating and focusing the Agency’s development of ISCP technologies and systems for robotic and human exploration. This paper will outline results to date on the development of ISCP technologies and systems at JSC and plans for future activities.