Our program is based on these premises: (1) Ethylene and other useful products, e.g., polyethylene and ethanol, can be manufactured from metabolic wastes, e.g., carbon dioxide and water, as an adjunct to Life Support Systems (LSS) required in manned spacecraft and planetary bases, e.g., Moon and Mars; (2) These products are best manufactured using inorganic processes based on chemical engineering principles, and (3) These processes make use of the major components of metabolic waste, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Our program satisfies the requirements of Subtopic 10.04 Spacecraft Life Support Infrastructure:"Advanced life support systems are essential for the success of future human planetary exploration." It focuses on (1) Direct Catalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide and (2) Catalytic Reforming of Methane to produce Ethylene in conversions greater than 95%. Benefits are: (1) The conversion of metabolic wastes to useful products, including potential foodstuffs, (2) Weight savings which may result from reduced on-board foodstuff requirements; (3) Manufacture of useful products based on engineering principles, not life processes, e.g., plants, and (4) reduced resupply from Earth.
