MGS-1S Sulfate ISRU

Exolith Simulant: MGS-1S Sulfate ISRU

Mineralogy

Mineral Wt.%
Gypsum 40.0
Plagioclase 16.4
Glass-rich basalt 13.7
Pyroxene 12.2
Olivine 8.2
Mg-sulfate 2.4
Ferrihydrite 2.1
Hydrated silica 1.8
Magnetite 1.1
Anhydrite 1.0
Fe-carbonate 0.8
Hematite 0.3

MGS-1S is a modified version of the root MGS-1 simulant, and is enriched in the polyhydrated sulfate gypsum. This represents the Reference Case “B” in the NASA Mars Water In-Situ Resource Utilization Study.

MGS-1S is specifically designed for ISRU water extraction studies; the M-WIP study concluded that polyhydrated sulfate deposits represent a clear advantage over bulk regolith or clay-bearing deposits in terms of mass and power, and may be much easier to access and excavate than permafrost deposits.

Images

Photograph of an MGS-1S prototype: