Advancing Artemis Resource Utilization Technology through Vacuum Thermochemical Processing

Future lunar exploration and sustained Artemis operations will require the ability to utilize local resources to reduce dependence on Earth-supplied materials and consumables. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies capable of extracting oxygen, metals, construction materials, and other useful products from lunar regolith are essential for establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon and enabling future exploration beyond low Earth orbit. However, many proposed regolith-processing pathways rely on thermochemical reactions that occur under extreme conditions involving high temperatures, high vacuum, and complex gas-solid interactions. Experimental capabilities that can reproduce these environments in a controlled laboratory setting remain limited, creating a significant barrier to technology development, validation, and workforce training. The University of Central Florida (UCF) proposes to establish a new experimental capability for extreme-environment planetary resource processing through the development of a laboratory-scale high-temperature, ultra-high-vacuum reaction chamber integrated with real-time gas analysis instrumentation. The proposed facility will enable controlled investigation of thermochemical processes relevant to lunar ISRU, including regolith reduction, oxygen extraction, volatile release, and utilization of regolith-derived materials. Designed to operate over a broad temperature and pressure range, the system will provide a versatile platform for studying a wide variety of reaction pathways and processing strategies applicable to future lunar and planetary missions. The project consists of four integrated tasks. Task 1 will design, fabricate, and validate the reaction chamber and supporting instrumentation. The system will incorporate high-temperature heating, ultra-high-vacuum operation, real-time pressure and temperature measurements, and in-situ gas analysis for monitoring reaction products. Task 2 will utilize the developed facility to conduct experimental investigations of regolith reduction and resource extraction processes. Experiments will examine the effects of temperature, pressure, reducing environments, and regolith simulant compositions on reaction performance and product formation. Materials characterization and data analysis will be performed to understand the fundamental mechanisms governing resource recovery under lunar-relevant conditions. Task 3 will disseminate project outcomes through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and public release of research and educational products in accordance with NASA data-sharing requirements. Task 4 will implement a comprehensive workforce development and educational program that integrates students into NASA-relevant research activities while strengthening institutional capacity for space technology research. The proposed project directly supports NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) priorities by advancing experimental tools and knowledge needed for lunar resource utilization, surface sustainability, and future human exploration missions. The facility will provide foundational infrastructure for testing and validating technologies relevant to oxygen production, metal extraction, materials processing, and utilization of lunar resources. The resulting experimental data and validated methodologies will contribute to the development of technologies required for sustainable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other planetary destinations. A major outcome of the project will be the development of a skilled and diverse STEM workforce prepared for careers in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy systems, and space technology. Undergraduate and graduate students will participate directly in facility design, system integration, experimental testing, data analysis, and dissemination activities. Students will engage with NASA professionals, participate in research internships, present their work at professional conferences, and receive mentorship from academic and industry experts. In addition, a new graduate course, Extreme-Environment Energy Systems and Planetary Resource Processing, will be developed to integrate project outcomes into the curriculum and provide long-term educational impact. By combining research infrastructure development, NASA-relevant scientific investigation, workforce preparation, and community engagement, this project will strengthen UCF’s capacity to contribute to NASA’s exploration objectives while preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers needed to support the Artemis program and future human spaceflight missions.