This paper presents a theoretical engineering feasibility analysis of the RK-X photocatalytic process for In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) on Mars. Experimental validation under simulated Martian conditions is the essential next step before any mission deployment claim can be made. The RK-X process converts the two most abundant Martian resources, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and subsurface water ice (H2O), into formic acid (HCOOH) and oxygen (O2) through a fulvic acid-based photocatalytic cycle validated at the industrial scale in Hungary. A reference module processing 10 tonnes of CO2 per Earth year yields 10. 459 tonnes of formic acid and 3. 636 tonnes of oxygen, sufficient to sustain a six-person crew for approximately two Earth years with a 198% safety margin over nominal respiratory demand. The economic analysis indicates that importing equivalent oxygen from Earth costs 1. 82–3. 64 million per year; equivalent energy storage (Li-ion) costs 30. 5–61 million for one-time use. Formic acid stores 15. 25 MWh of energy in ambient-stable liquid form at a round-trip efficiency of 68. 64% without cryogenic infrastructure. A photovoltaic array of 55. 37 m2 provides the primary energy source; a kilowatt-class nuclear fission reactor constitutes the strategic opportunity for continuous, dust-storm-immune operation with free thermal co-generation. Three critical research gaps have been identified requiring laboratory validation before Mars deployment: (i) catalyst performance at the Martian CO2 partial pressure (p (CO2) < 10 mbar, T = 15 °C) ; (ii) water ice and dry ice extraction at an operational scale; and (iii) integrated closed-loop system demonstration. Built on Earth-proven chemistry with identified, addressable development pathways, the RK-X process theoretically resolves the problems of oxygen supply, seasonal energy storage, water management, and cryogenic infrastructure within a single closed-loop chemical cycle.
Zoltán Köntös (Thu,) studied this question.