Blue Origin’s Blue Alchemist Tech Transforms Moon Dust

Blue Origin undertakes to make a permanent human presence in space a reality. To this end, the company has developed the new Shepard and the new Glenn rockets to send useful orbit loads, and it aims to create super-revocatory launch vehicles to reach the moon (the new Armstrong rocket) and beyond. Another objective has been to develop systems that will allow the use of in situ resources (ISRU) in extraterrestrial environments, which is essential for making space sustainable. This includes the company Blue ALCHIST ISRU of the company, which recently completed its critical design review.

For missions operating beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the replenishment opportunities will be rare. This is particularly true with regard to March, because it takes six to nine months to perform a one -way transit using conventional propulsion. Ensuring sustainability requires that missions be as self -sufficient as possible, which means counting on local resources to provide basic necessities. This is the objective of Blue Alchemist, which is designed to transform the lunar and Martian regolith into solar energy systems, breathable oxygen, propergol, metals and building materials.

How reactors work with electrolysis of melted regoliths

The blue alchemist is an end -to -end system which relies on an electrolysis reactor regolith in fusion (MRE). This reactor uses electric current to separate oxygen from the metals (such as iron, aluminum and silicon) without water, toxic chemicals or carbon emissions. Silicon can then be refined to produce sun -resistant solar cells, while elementary oxygen can be converted into oxygen propellant, fuel cells or oxygen liquid propeller (LOX). Metals and ceramic can also be used as building materials for housing structures and to create semiconductors for electrical systems.

This process reduces the dependence on supplies launched from the earth. It also has potential applications here on earth, where neutral carbon manufacturing can ensure sustainable development. In a press release from the company, Pat Remias, the vice-president of advanced concepts and engineering of Blue Origin companies, said, said “The blue alchemist changes everything about how we approach space. It is the foundation of a lasting robotic and human presence through the solar system. Each kilogram of oxygen that we make on the lunar surface is less than we have to launch from the earth, making it a giant jump to permanent establishments as well as critical resources for transport to the moon, the Mars and beyond. ”

The company also indicates that it is on the right track to develop the system to make lunar landings up to 60% cheaper and reduce the masses of fuel and battery cells up to 70% by allowing lunar supply services. The system is under development at Blue Origin’s Space Resources Center of Excellence, an installation of 1.2 hectare with 5,575 square meters of laboratory space which is made up of a team of 65 interdisciplinary experts. Technology is being developed with the support of a price of the NASA switching point, which has been granted through the agency’s development development development program.

The critical design review completed, Blue Alchemist will go to the next development phase, with an autonomous demonstration in a simulated lunar environment planned for 2026.