Polyethylene can be synthesized from carbon dioxide and water (Mars in-situ resources) and metabolic waste. Once synthesized, polyethylene can be used for the fabrication of habitats, radiation shielding, spare parts and self-replicating machines to support future human and robotic missions. MEI has developed a process combining microchannel reactor technology for production of ethylene with conventional reactor systems for the in-situ production of polyethylene. Polyethylene may be used alone or with regolith or recycled plastics to form composites; its potential applications are vast.
