MIT News breed · Science

MIT PhD Candidate Develops Technology for Mars Return Journeys

Lanie McKinney, an MIT PhD candidate, is researching in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies to enable human return journeys from Mars by producing propellant on the planet.

McKinney's research uses cold plasma to convert abundant Martian carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon monoxide, which could be used for life support and propellant. A key challenge is separating the oxygen from the resulting mixture before it recombines.

She has developed a reactor that performs the conversion well and is now integrating it with an oxygen-selective membrane. The interaction between the plasma environment and the membrane is not fully understood, presenting an area of uncertainty in the research.

McKinney's work is motivated by the prospect of connecting laboratory experiments to future human space missions. She has also participated in NASA competitions, including designing a self-sustaining Mars mission and co-leading a team that won an award for a system to recycle waste on the Moon and in deep space.

Another project involved collaborating with engineers and architects to design lunar habitats protected from radiation using lunar regolith, highlighting the value of interdisciplinary teamwork.

McKinney emphasizes that while individual research is important, solving the challenges of human space exploration requires cross-disciplinary collaboration. She believes this collaborative approach is essential for establishing a permanent human presence beyond Earth.

Her fascination with exploration, stemming from a childhood interest in space and a love for hiking and mountaineering, drives her approach to research. She encourages embracing unfamiliar problems by asking questions and fully committing to areas of interest.

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