Resource Characterization
Determine composition, location, accessibility, and environmental constraints before selecting an acquisition method.
DEVOWER / Program 04
RESOURCE SYSTEMS
Researching how locally available materials could support future operations beyond Earth.
MissionEvaluate the connected chain from environmental characterization to usable stored commodities, without assuming extraction or production capability already exists.
Processing Chain
Study acquisition, purification, conversion, storage, and quality control as one connected system.
Vehicle Interface
Define how finished commodities could be stored, transferred, and used by future spacecraft and Ganymede systems.
Research Sequence
From local material to usable system.
Each stage must define measurable requirements for the stage that follows.
- 01Characterize
- 02Acquire
- 03Purify
- 04Convert
- 05Store
- 06Transfer
Program Architecture
Six systems define the initial research boundary.
Resource capability depends on one traceable chain. Acquisition without processing, storage, and transfer does not create an operating system.
Site Characterization
Map candidate materials, operating hazards, energy requirements, and access constraints.
Material Handling
Evaluate excavation, capture, transport, and containment concepts for remote autonomous operation.
Purification
Separate useful feedstock from contaminants and establish measurable quality requirements.
Water and Gas Processing
Study water processing, electrolysis, gas handling, and other conversion pathways without assuming a final design.
Cryogenic Retention
Assess liquefaction, insulation, boil-off control, monitoring, and long-duration storage.
Transfer and Refueling
Define controlled interfaces for moving stored commodities between infrastructure and future spacecraft.
Program Boundary
Research scope is public. Detailed configurations remain internal.
Current work concerns candidate resources, concepts, requirements, energy demand, interfaces, and validation paths. Public descriptions stay at system level.
Operating Context
Local capability supports longer missions.
Resource systems become useful only when they integrate safely with spacecraft, storage, transfer, and Ganymede operations.
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