PARSEC - AETHER - NASA HUMAN LANDER CHALLENGE Grant Bowers , Software Engineering Sanaya Nichani , Aerospace Engineering Max Klein , Aerospace Engineering Cooper Nelson , Aerospace Engineering
David Clay , Aerospace Engineering Ian Naegeli , Mechanical Engineering Isabel Scalia , Aerospace Engineering MENTORS Siwei Fan , Aerospace Engineering Ran Madler , Aerospace Engineering
The project Atmospheric Electrochemical Transformation for Habitat and Environmental Regeneration (AETHER) aims to create a closed-loop oxygen recovery system by directly extracting oxygen from carbon dioxide through a series of electrochemical reactions. The AETHER system consists of three disks housed in a reaction chamber: a cobalt catalyst cathode, a lithium anode, and an aprotic electrolyte separator. In this process, lithium reacts with carbon dioxide in a way similar to hydrogen’s role in photosynthesis, producing oxygen while simultaneously producing lithium ions and a carbon byproduct. By closing the loop, AETHER could significantly improve the oxygen recovery rate beyond what is currently achieved on the ISS, directly supporting the goal of improving ECLSS performance. The Professional Association of Research for Space Engineering Concepts (PARSEC) is a student organization dedicated to research and design projects that focus on advanced space concepts. PARSEC’s year-long projects help its members learn and gain experience with the engineering project life cycle. PARSEC members work to develop concepts, perform research, and create prototypes, as in the AETHER project.
EAGLE PRIZE AWARD
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | 19
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