Among the impossible things humans would like to do is travel to Mars and make it a second home. Twenty years ago people would have laughed at this idea. However, now, the first manned flight to Mars is expected to take off in the near future, with over 200,000 volunteers ready to leave earth behind. Hydromars is working to make it possible by solving the water supply during the voyages.
Earth has a circular water system. Water evaporates from the oceans, rivers and seas and falls back as rain leaving behind salt and impurities. By using precision energy and nanotechnology, the Swedish deep-tech company, Hydromars, has mimicked this process and put it in a box. Hydromars has received valuable support from ESA BIC Sweden, during 2022 and 2023.
The first flight-worthy demonstration box is now included in German Aerospace Agency’s (DLR) research on habitats for extraterrestrial regions and will be further tested in space towards the end of 2024 with financial support from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Hydromars’ technology is a result of extensive Research & Development in the core process. The system, at its core, consists of membrane-based thermal pervaporation technology that works by lifting the clean water molecules out of the polluted water, instead of filtering impurities from the water. The result is ultrapure water (UPW) free of all non-volatile substances. The highly innovative proprietary membrane module is produced in-house by Hydromars’ sister company, Xzero.
The solution developed by Hydromars is today the only obvious option for solving the water supply during deep space voyages. The company has received several grants from ESA to mature the company and has been incubated at ESA BIC between 2022-2024. The latter contributed with the financial and technical support as well as provision of a cleanroom facility.
– Advanced Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) for a future LEO, lunar and Mars surface are crucial to optimize safety, health, and performance of humans in space as well as to expand scientific knowledge of a sister world. We have found the way to accomplish complete recirculation of water, but we still have a long way to go, says Shorena Tsindeliani, CEO and Co-founder of Hydromars.
A round trip mission to Mars takes roughly two years to complete and with a crew of six astronauts, approximately 30 tons of supplies are required. A Life Support System (LSS) is thus necessary for deep space habitation. A major component of the LSS is a water recovery system to extract and make available pure water from crewmembers’ urine, sweat, hygiene water and other wastewater.
One of the eight predictions for the world in 2030 by experts from Global Future Councils is the colonization of Mars. Billions of dollars/euros are now being spent on preparing for manned missions to Mars. But there is no way in sight for providing drinking water for the voyage.
– But first, our product must be refined and validated on Earth as sending humans to Mars is a phenomenal undertaking by all standards and presents extreme risks, Shorena concludes.
The ESA Business Incubation Centre Sweden is managed by Arctic Business in the Northern Region, UIC in the Capital Region, Innovatum in the Western Region and Ideon Innovation in the South Region. ESA BIC Sweden is for people, teams and/or companies with an innovative business idea based on space-based technology and satellite information.
For more information:
Joacim Brauner, Business Developer, ESA BIC Sweden
UIC
Mobil: 076-135 50 62
E-post: joacim.brauner@uic.se
Shorena Tsindeliani, CEO & Co-founder
Hydromars
E-post: shorena.tsindeliani@hydromars.eu