Blue Alchemist Process from Blue Origin Wins Tipping Point Partnership

NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $35 million Tipping Point partnership to continue advancing its innovative Blue Alchemist breakthrough revealed earlier this year.

First we return humans to the Moon, then we start to ‘live off the land.’”

Pat Remias, Blue Origin

Blue Alchemist is a proposed end-to-end, scalable, autonomous, and commercial solution that produces solar cells from lunar regolith, which is the dust and crushed rock abundant on the surface of the Moon. Based on a process called molten regolith electrolysis, the breakthrough would bootstrap unlimited electricity and power transmission cables anywhere on the surface of the Moon.

The molten regolith electrolysis process uses an electrical current to separate iron, silicon, and aluminum from the oxygen to which they are bound. That oxygen, necessary for propulsion and life support, is a byproduct.

The process purifies silicon to more than 99.999%. This level of purity is required to make efficient solar cells. While typical silicon purification methods on Earth use large amounts of toxic and explosive chemicals, the molten regolith electrolysis process uses just sunlight and the silicon from the reactor.

Blue Alchemist Demonstration Should Take Place in 2026

According to NASA, a technology like Blue Alchemist is considered at a Tipping Point if the agency’s investment can help grow the innovation into a viable commercial solution. This investment will result in a demonstration of autonomous operation in a simulated lunar environment by 2026.

“Harnessing the vast resources in space to benefit Earth is part of our mission, and we’re inspired and humbled to receive this investment from NASA to advance our innovation,” said Pat Remias, vice president, Capabilities Directorate of Space Systems Development. “First we return humans to the Moon, then we start to ‘live off the land.’”

According to Blue Origin, because the technology manufactures solar cells with zero carbon emissions, no water, and no toxic ingredients or other chemicals, it has exciting potential to directly benefit the Earth.

Blue Origin is one of 11 companies to be selected for Tipping Point partnerships by NASA for 2023. The total expected NASA contribution to the partnerships is $150 million. Each company will contribute a minimum percentage, based on company size, of the total project cost. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) will issue milestone-based funded Space Act Agreements lasting for up to four years.

(Source: Blue Origin. Additional Information provided by NASA. Images provided by Blue Origin)