Mars In-situ Carrier Gas Generator

This paper describes a simple concept for extracting a nitrogen-argon carrier gas mixture from the Martian atmosphere in-situ and compressing the gas to a pressure suitable for use in analytical experiments during exploration missions. Both the separation and compression processes are performed via adsorption. In addition to being a low-mass, low-volume, and virtually solid state unit, the process consumes little or no electrical power. Energy to perform work is taken from the environment using the daily temperature cycle. Such a device would also be a proof-of-concept technology for buffer gas generation for life support application on future human missions to Mars.