Xenon Reprocessing

NASA uses high purity xenon (HP-Xe) gas as a propellent with electric propulsion systems, which are operated in ground test facilities that simulate the space environment. Much of this propellant is captured in cryogenic pumps throughout testing, along with other pumped gases, and then recovered when the testing is complete. Dedicated, oil-free mechanical pumping systems are used to transfer the resulting gas mixture (xenon plus other atmospheric gases) from the test chambers into ambient-pressure storage bladders. This collected gas is then transferred to high pressure gas cylinders for ease of storage and transport. The Government desires to have this recovered gas mixture purified or exchanged for HP-Xe for future electric propulsion system testing. The cost of either purification or exchange is expected to be much lower than the purchase cost of new HP-Xe. At this time, the Government anticipates awarding a five-year contract. Over the course of this contract, delivery orders would be issued for individual reprocessing requirements ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Liters at one time. The total estimated requirement for the five-year period is currently around 520,000 Liters. These values are estimates only and subject to change as Government requirements shift.