WAVAR, short for water-vapor
adsorption
Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface. This process creates a film of the ''adsorbate'' on the surface of the ''adsorbent''. This process differs from absorption, in which a ...
reactor, is a process that has been studied for its potential in directly extracting water from the
atmosphere of Mars
The atmosphere of Mars is the layer of gases surrounding Mars. It is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95%), molecular nitrogen (2.85%), and argon (2%). It also contains trace levels of water vapor, oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nob ...
by alternately blowing air over a
zeolite
Zeolites are a group of several microporous, crystalline aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts. They mainly consist of silicon, aluminium, oxygen, and have the general formula ･y where is either a meta ...
adsorption bed and heating the bed to extract the adsorbed water. An advantage of this process is its mechanical simplicity and applicability to any point on Mars's surface. Its output is not sufficient for industrial purposes such as fuel manufacture,
but it may be a useful supplement to life support in some architectures.
See also
*
In situ resource utilization
In space exploration, in situ resource utilization (ISRU) is the practice of collection, processing, storing and use of materials found or manufactured on other astronomical objects (the Moon, Mars, asteroids, etc.) that replace materials th ...
References
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Industry in space
Missions to Mars