Increasing Methane Generation with Lunar Catalysts via Microwave Plastic Pyrolysis

• Development Resources: SolidWorks, KiCad, and Matlab
• Paper: Link

To create self-sustaining extraterrestrial settlements, we must turn waste into essential resources. This proposal pioneers a solution: converting plastic waste directly into rocket propellant through a catalyzed pyrolysis process. Our research will test whether readily available lunar materials can be used as catalysts to significantly boost the yield of methane—a key propellant. By enabling the on-site generation of fuel, this initiative would fundamentally change the economics of space exploration, slashing transportation costs and paving the way for off-world sustainability.