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In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on Mars - Can Photoelectrochemical Production of Fuel and Oxygen Play a Role?

Tuesday, June 28, 2016
8:30am to 12:30pm
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All interested students, faculty and researchers are invited to attend a Keck Institute for Space Studies short course on –

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on Mars - Can Photoelectrochemical Production of Fuel and Oxygen Play a Role?

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

8:00 A.M. Coffee

8:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Short Course

12:30 P.M. – informal lunch is provided for all attendees

Lees-Kubota Lecture Hall – 101 Guggenheim Building - California Institute of Technology

Abstract:

The human exploration of Mars will require vast amounts of fuel and oxygen, both of which will be very difficult and expensive to bring entirely from Earth. A much better approach is to "life off the land", producing these supplies from in-situ resources. But what resources are available on Mars? What are the scientific and technical challenges that must be overcome to build and operate systems to generate these valuable commodities? In this short course, the science and technology of producing supplies necessary for human missions from Mars feedstocks will be discussed, with emphasis on an emerging technology that uses sunlight to directly convert atmospheric carbon dioxide to fuel and oxygen.

Speakers:

·         Dr. Jerry Sanders (NASA JSC) - "ISRU: State of the Art and System-Level Considerations"

·         Dr. David Kass (JPL) - "Overview of the Surface and Atmosphere of Mars: Challenges and Opportunities"

·         Dr. Mike Hecht (MIT) - "ISRU on Mars: Challenges, Current Status, and Prospects"

·         Dr. CX Xiang (Caltech) - "Photoelectrochemical Conversion of CO2 and Water to Fuels: Challenges, Current Status, and Prospects"

For more details, go to: http://kiss.caltech.edu/new_website/short_courses/isru.html

The closest parking available is: the California Parking Structure. You may use a JPL hang tag, or obtain a free parking pass for the event from the JPL parking office. Otherwise, you may buy a permit from the kiosk.

Seating is first come, first served. No registration is required for this free event.

For more information, please contact Michele Judd by phone at 626-395-6630 or by email at [email protected] or visit In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on Mars - Can Photoelectrochemical Production of Fuel and Oxygen Play a Role?.