Electrolyzer experiment from SwRI and UTSA to fly in low gravity test mission

Electrolyzer experiment from SwRI and UTSA to fly in low gravity test mission
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 02, 2025

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have secured $500,000 in funding from NASA's TechLeap Prize initiative to conduct a parabolic flight test of a novel electrolyzer system aimed at supporting future space missions. The test will assess the electrolyzer's performance in low-gravity conditions simulating lunar or Martian environments.

The project, known as the Mars Atmospheric Reactor for Synthesis of Consumables (MARS-C), is led by SwRI engineers Kevin Supak and Dr. Eugene Hoffman, alongside Dr. Shrihari "Shri" Sankarasubramanian of UTSA. Their prototype technology is engineered to generate critical consumables - including methane fuel and oxygen - by processing carbon dioxide and simulated Martian brine through electrochemical reactions.

The UTSA-designed electrolyzer, developed with NASA support, operates by applying voltage across two electrodes to convert input materials into hydrocarbons. This in-situ resource utilization approach is a cornerstone of NASA's long-term strategy for human survival on extraterrestrial surfaces.

TechLeap Prize recipients are selected to advance spaceflight-ready technologies through rapid testing campaigns. SwRI and UTSA's award is among nine chosen for suborbital, orbital-hosted, or parabolic flight evaluations, with all tests to be completed within a year of the award.

The experiment builds on prior SwRI research involving partial gravity fluid dynamics aboard parabolic flights. Earlier studies demonstrated that partial gravity alters bubble behavior, directly impacting gas evolution in electrochemical systems.

"In a partial gravity environment, like the Moon or Mars, a reduced buoyancy effect on gas bubbles in an electrolyzer poses challenges that aren't present on Earth," said Supak. "We lack an understanding about chemical processes that leverage bubble nucleation in low gravity, which is the gap we aim to fill."

SwRI will integrate the electrolyzer into its preexisting parabolic flight rig and perform ground-based validation tests before the airborne demonstration. The flight is targeted for 2026.

"We plan to acquire bubble nucleation and fluid motion videos in an operating electrolyzer during the parabolic flight," Sankarasubramanian said. "Understanding these processes can help us improve the overall efficiency and performance of these electrolyzers."

Supak emphasized the broader impact of the work: "Humans have an intrinsic drive to push the boundaries of what's possible. Exploring space catalyzes technological advancements that have far-reaching benefits in our daily lives - often unanticipated innovations arise as a direct result of overcoming the unique challenges of space exploration."

Research Report:Mars Atmospheric Reactor for Synthesis of Consumables (MARS-C)