High-Test Peroxide Generation System for Scalable In-Situ Monopropellant Production from Lunar Water and Oxygen

The Prometheus system is a compact, end-to-end platform for generating 90-98 wt% high-test hydrogen peroxide (HTP) directly from water and oxygen, leveraging an integrated solid electrolyte reactor and membrane concentrator. In the bench-scale design, an electrochemical cell converts water and oxygen into hydrogen peroxide without consumable additives. A hollow-fiber membrane unit then upgrades this intermediate solution to medium-high concentration levels, proving feasibility for continuous HTP production. At a pilot scale of 1,000 kg/year HTP output, the reactor stack and membrane system would operate continuously at low power, positioning the approach as both energy-efficient and readily scalable for Lunar or Martian propellant production. Funding from this proposal will be used to demonstrate feasibility through a bench-scale prototype, conduct detailed safety analyses, and refine scaling strategies to reach pilot-plant output. The design emphasizes modularity, minimal moving parts, and low maintenance, making it suitable for austere environments such as the Moon and Mars, where water and oxygen can be extracted from icy regolith or metal oxide reduction. By eliminating the need for terrestrial transport of bulky or hazardous propellants, Prometheus directly supports NASA’s in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) objectives. Beyond space applications, the system also targets terrestrial markets (e.g., launch pads seeking on-demand high-test peroxide, or industries such as paper milling needing a flexible, safer supply of HTP). This dual commercial focus underpins a robust business strategy with near-term terrestrial revenue potential and long-term viability in the evolving cislunar economy.