Portable Vacuum Ultraviolet Source to Support Human Exploration and Inhabitation of the Space Environment

This project aims to develop a portable, hydrogen-powered Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) radiation source to used forcritical tasks to support human space exploration and inhabitation. Simultaneously, this scalable, energy-efficienttechnology addresses significant terrestrial applications. The VUV source prototype developed at the AustralianNational University (ANU) demonstrates excellent efficacy in a controlled laboratory setting but lacks theportability required for field deployment, positioning the technology at TRL 4. This project will advance the systemto a fully portable design, thereby significantly expanding its practical applications and commercial potential andtransitioning to TRL 6.