Current Status of Research on the Occurrence Characteristics and Extraction Methods of Martian Water Ice

Abstract

As a key in-situ resource for future manned missions, the effective extraction of Martian water ice is crucial to the success of the mission. This paper systematically reviews the occurrence characteristics of Martian water ice and the research status of its extraction technologies. In terms of occurrence characteristics, they follow a significant latitudinal zonal pattern: low-latitude regions are dominated by widely distributed mineral-bound water; mid-latitude regions are developed with a large amount of pore ice, excess ice, and buried glaciers, which are the key areas for current ISRU detection; high-latitude regions and polar regions have high-purity permafrost and polar cap systems. It also points out that the physical and chemical properties of ice-containing media have an important impact on extraction. In terms of extraction technologies, aiming at different occurrence states, the paper focuses on discussing the high-temperature thermal desorption process of mineral water, as well as multiple technical routes for underground ice such as mechanical excavation, thermal sublimation, and in-situ melting (such as the Rodwell system). This review aims to provide a reference for the design of water resource exploitation schemes for future Mars exploration missions.

Keywords

Mars / In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) / Water ice / Extraction technology / Martian regolith

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