10/10/2022:
The crew awoke and had a breakfast of pancakes and coffee.
Daily Report:
EVA Operations
EVA operations are complete for this analog simulation.
Water Electrolysis
Today electrolysis was conducted with graphite. Tests were run in a solution of distilled water (solvent) at 3,000mL, and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH, solute) at 35mL. All tests were powered by a DC converter pushing a force potential of 30V through alligator clamps.
Graphite conductors rendered an electric current of 4 Amps and isolated 750mL of Oxygen in 31 minutes, 24 seconds. Hydrogen was not tallied in this experiment, because the Positive alligator clamp was too corroded for worthwhile data collection. Electrolysis equipment was also packed and cleaned up.
Analysis of conductors: Lots of data analysis will be conducted in the months to come. Immediate analysis finds Aluminum to be the most efficient conductor; however, aluminum suffered from such server electrochemical corrosion, and was not a sustainable conductor in the solutions tested. Graphite turned out to be the most sustainable, suffering almost no corrosion, and was tested on 60% more than all other conductors. Graphite also withstood higher Amps in testing and was the second most effective conductor. Graphite was 80% more effective at isolating Hydrogen and Oxygen free radicals than Platinum, and 55% more effective than Copper.
Copper, being a very conductive metal, failed to overcome the resistance of electrode corrosion, resulting in Hydrogen and Dioxygen reduction. Copper testing was also run in tap water, which is more conductive, and likely had an effect on stimulating electrochemical reactions. Not much water electrolysis research has been conducted using graphite, copper, and aluminum with the specific intention of deep space operations in mind. Lots of the data collected from ILMAH XIII experimentations has made this research possible and enabled credible analysis to continue.
Analysis of Solution: Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) was the most effective solute for water
electrolysis. Pure Sodium (Na) was the second most effective, followed by tap water, and then distilled water. Water itself is not very conductive, so the minerals in tap water increased conductivity. Tap water also increased the amount of uncontrollable variables, which created an unsure environment that is not well suited for electrochemical sustainability. Metal corrosion occurred 85% of the time in tap water operations. Distilled water with either Na or NaOH solutes proved to be the most sustainable solution environment for long term operations. Early analysis finds that a solution of distilled water with Sodium Hydroxide was the most sustainable and highly efficient. Graphite conductors was also the most sustainable, and highly efficient.
Overall, 1,952 mL of isolated Oxygen was produced from all experiments. This is enough to keep the average human alive for 6 hours, 50 minutes. 4,556mL was also collected. Propulsion and other analysis will be done on this figure in the months to come.
Goal: The goal is to find a chemical solution and electric conductor suitable for long term water electrolysis in deep space operations, as laid out in NASA’s Artemis plans. Electrolysis also needs to be highly efficient, especially in the case of space travel emergencies. If a breach in spacecraft render cabin air loses, it is highly unlikely astronauts will have the option of a timely mission abort or a resource drop from mission control. Astronauts will need the ability to produce lots of breathable air with resources on deck.
Stress Mitigation Study
The first focused-breathing session was conducted from 1322-1332, the second from 1811-1821, and a third will be from 2230-2240. Further analysis of the data post-mission without any focused breathing will be conducted.
Humanure Plant Study
All plant and sprouts have been collected. All soil tests have been completed. A more precise measurement of the soil samples will be conducted through the Agriculture Department at Texas A&M. The mid-level ratio mixture proved to be the most efficient in growing sweet peppers and cucumbers. This utilized the least NPK and water for the duration of the mission.
Other experiments and notes
UND experiments completed.
Lessons Learned
1. Goal-oriented schedule as opposed to time-oriented schedule. A set of daily/mission-wide goals/tasks to accomplish before the end of the mission in total and the mission commander and crew are given the flexibility to accomplish them as they see fit.
• Example: personal experiments were hindered due to overscheduling and timecrunch/prioritization of one experiment over others.
2. MCC/crew communication expectations not clear at the beginning.
3. EVA communications need to be standardized.
• Example: do not leave one’s Intra-VA post unless a relief is available, even for the
bathroom (i.e. General Order Number 5, U.S. Navy