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The technology provides miniaturized techniques for extracting trace amounts of organic molecules (lipids) from natural samples. It operates as an autonomous, miniaturized fluidic system, integrating lab techniques for lipid analysis while minimizing reagent volumes and concentrating organics for analysis, thereby increasing signal-to-noise ratios by orders of magnitude. The non-aqueous fluidic system described herein for astrobiological and life-detection missions (either in situ or returned sample) is configured to extract lipid organics from regolith using (1) a fluidic sample processor made of materials compatible with organic solvents and (2) a machine-learning system to select processing steps and parameters to maximize lipid yield. A critical gap is bridged by integrating technologies into a system that replicates analytical lab procedures autonomously on a spaceflight instrument scale with fidelity to original lab techniques. Automated fluidic devices combine controlled handling of liquids with sequential operations and parallelization of replicate processes. By designing such systems to closely interface with both sample-delivery and analytical measurement systems, laboratory analyses are automated. The technology adapts best practice laboratory methods for lipid analysis, overcoming analytical challenges like low organic abundance, interference of minerals/salts, and degradation of origin-diagnostic molecular structures. The extraction and concentration techniques from rock/soil samples can be applied to any biomarkers by changing the solvent, temperature, and agitation.

The pre-treatment solution increases the solubility of calcium in urine brines by reducing the concentration of sulfates. When the solution is properly dosed, it enables biological, physical, and chemical stabilization of flushed urine for storage and distillation up to a steady 87% water recovery, as realized aboard the U.S. segment of the ISS, without precipitation of minerals such as gypsum. Turning wastewater or seawater into potable water requires three important steps shared by the UPA and Water Recovery System (WRS) aboard the ISS: 1) pre-treatment, 2) distillation or membrane filtration, and 3) transport and storage of potable water and brine. Added during the first step, the pre-treatment solution improves the efficiency of the UPA by reducing the formation of solid precipitates caused by urinary calcium, sulfate ions, and sulfuric acid. This reduction in-turn creates less acidic brines which means more water can be recovered along with less surface scaling and clogging, further increasing recovery. As an added benefit, the solution contains a biocide that prevents the growth of bacteria and fungus, thereby increasing storage time of the treated urine. Although the pre-treatment solution was developed for the ISS’s UPA , the technology can potentially be used on Earth to pretreat contaminated water from organic-laden, high-salinity wastewaters. Adding the solution is a simple process that can be scaled to fit demand. It has the potential to improve water recovery in many applications such as: desalination plants, brackish water treatment, mining water treatment, hydraulic fracturing operations, and more. The pre-treatment solution may also lend itself for use in the transport and storage of wastewater due to the solution's ability to prevent microbial growth.

Traditional aerogels are produced by sol-gel chemistry where a dilute polymer solution is taken to gelation. Polymer Aerogel 3D printing requires a high viscosity sol for stackable extrusion; however, this limits the time frame to print the materials prior to gelation. In response to this issue, NASA researchers have developed a novel dual solvent process to be used in additive manufacturing (3D printing). A dual-solvent formulation is employed during polymer aerogel precursor preparation to enable 3D printing of self-supporting structures. The system combines a high–boiling point aprotic solvent, which supports polymerization and network formation during aerogel synthesis, with a secondary low–boiling point solvent that partially evaporates during extrusion and printing. Preferential evaporation of the low–boiling component increases the local solids concentration and material viscosity at the nozzle and immediately after deposition, enabling filament stackability and shape retention without premature gelation. This approach decouples printability from bulk gel chemistry, allowing precise control of rheology during printing while preserving the desired aerogel microstructure and porosity after drying. A Two-Pot System: • Pot 1 contains a cross-linked polyamic acid solution and acetic anhydride or water scavenger, dissolved into a mix of high and low boiling point solvents (e.g., Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), or Dimethylformadie (DMF), with acetone or tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethanol, or methanol. • Pot 2 contains a base catalyst (e.g., trimethylamine or pyridine) and optionally a thickening agent (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate) to match viscosities. Dual-Solvent Chemistry: The low boiling point solvent evaporates rapidly upon extrusion, increasing the polymer concentration and viscosity, allowing the aerogel to retain its shape and gel quickly. • Additive Manufacturing Process: The two solutions are mixed at the extrusion tip of a syringe/nozzle-based 3D printer. This enables low-viscosity flow pre-extrusion and rapid solidification post-extrusion—solving a key challenge in 3D printing aerogels.