The proposed Silicate-Sulfuric Acid Process: Mineral processing for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

Volatile elements and compounds found in extra-terrestrial environments are often the target of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) studies. Although water hydroxide most commonly focus these studies as they can be used for propellant human consumption; we instead on possible exploitation sulfur how it could utilized to produce building materials Moon, Mars Asteroids. We describe physical chemical pathways extracting from native sulfide minerals, manufacturing sulfuric acid situ, using produced dissolve silicate minerals. The final products this process, which call Silicate-Sulfuric Acid Process (SSAP), include iron metal, silica, oxygen metal oxides, all crucial scope a sustainable, space-based economy. our proposed methodology requires an initial investment water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, show that volatiles recovered reused order repeat process. calculate product yield process if were enacted lunar highlands, mare, Mars, well array asteroid types.