Description: Blueshift LLC d/b/a Outward Technologies proposes to continue development of a Multi-stage Oxygen and Regolith Resource Extractor (MORRE) for the production of high purity minerals and metals in addition to oxygen from lunar regolith. The underlying method utilizes novel process and temperature control systems to extend terrestrial vacuum metallurgical extraction processes used since the 1940’s to lunar regolith feedstocks not typically associated with vacuum metallurgy. MORRE requires little to no process consumables while yielding multiple high purity products. The process takes advantage of the lunar environment and utilizes demonstrated terrestrial industrial processes to reduce technical risk. Development of the MORRE concept will increase humanity’s presence in space by leveraging the readily available ultra-high vacuum on the Moon to unlock the abundant resources found within lunar regolith. The MORRE system not only enables the production of high purity materials on the lunar surface, but can also be implemented for space-based vacuum metallurgical processes that are currently not economically viable in terrestrial industries. The objective of the Phase II project is to raise the technology readiness level of the MORRE system from TRL4 to TRL5. A medium fidelity prototype reactor will be manufactured and tested. Thermodynamic and kinetic models will be developed and validated through MORRE prototype testing in a relevant vacuum environment.

Benefits: The primary application within NASA’s technology roadmap is TX 07.1 In-Situ Resource Utilization. The MORRE system can be incorporated into several future NASA missions to produce purified minerals and metals including silica, magnesium, alumina, and iron, and secondary refining of these minerals to produce high-purity silicon and aluminum for in-space production of robotic components, PV cells, and wiring. The MORRE system will enable low-cost fabrication and construction of infrastructure elements for towers, habitats, cabling, and more.

In lunar markets, the production of high purity materials from regolith are of high interest to commercial customers for use in structural materials, thermal/radiation shielding, and refined minerals for further material processing. In terrestrial markets, applications focus on extractive vacuum metallurgy for the recovery of co-products from a mixed ore feedstock.