Lanie McKinney, currently in her fifth year as a PhD candidate at MIT, is focused on advancing technologies to support human exploration of Mars. Her work in the Aerospace Plasma Group, led by Professor Carmen Guerra-Garcia, centers on developing methods to utilize resources found on Mars, a strategy termed in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). This approach is critical for establishing means to produce propellant and life support systems on the Red Planet, essential for a return journey to Earth.
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McKinney's research involves converting the carbon dioxide abundant in Mars' atmosphere into oxygen and carbon monoxide using cold plasma. “If we don’t build gas stations on Mars, it will be very difficult to get humans back to Earth,” she states. Currently, she has built a small reactor capable of facilitating this conversion, though challenges remain in separating oxygen from the resultant mixture.
A native of Oklahoma, McKinney holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and applied mathematics from the University of Tulsa. Initially drawn to astrophysics, her summer internship at the University of Colorado introduced her to plasma physics, steering her towards her current research focus.
At MIT, McKinney is pairing her plasma reactor with an oxygen-selective membrane aimed at efficiently extracting oxygen. However, they face uncertainties regarding how the reactive plasma environment will impact the membrane's performance.
Beyond her thesis work, McKinney has engaged in various projects through MIT’s Space Resources Workshop, including competing in NASA-sponsored challenges. In one such competition, she co-led MIT's CERBERUZ team to develop a system for recycling waste on missions to the moon, winning first prize in Phase 2 and securing $775,000. Another project involved designing moon habitats protected from radiation using lunar regolith to create durable bricks.
For McKinney, interdisciplinary collaboration is vital for addressing the challenges of human space exploration. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and diverse expertise in developing innovative solutions.
Outside of her research, McKinney enjoys hiking and mountaineering, activities that form a connection to her passion for exploration. Recently, she completed a mountaineering course in Alaska and summited Mount Baker. Reflecting on her journey at MIT, she encourages others to pursue their interests fearlessly, saying, “If something interests you, try it and go all in.”
As McKinney looks to the future, she envisions not just reaching Mars but establishing a permanent presence for ongoing scientific exploration and discovery.