OXEON ENERGY PROPOSES A COMBINATION OF MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS TO DEMONSTRATE THE REDUCTION-OXIDATION (REDOX) STABILITY OF A SOLID OXIDE ELECTROLYSIS CATHODE DURING START UP AND OPERATION. THE REDOX TOLERANT CATHODE MATERIAL WILL REDUCE SYSTEM COMPLEXITY, TOLERATE FLOW UPSET CONDITIONS, AND PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY IN SPACE BASED SYSTEMS WITHOUT A MAN-IN-THE-LOOP. SOLID OXIDE ELECTROLYSIS STACKS USE NICKEL ZIRCONIA COMPOSITE CATHODE TO REDUCE INCOMING OXIDIZED SPECIES SUCH AS THOSE AVAILABLE ON MARS (E.G. CARBON DIOXIDE) TO PRODUCE HIGH PURITY OXYGEN. THE DEVICE CAN ALSO OPERATE ON CO-ELECTROLYSIS MODE WHERE THE ATMOSPHERE CO2 AND WATER AND OTHER VOLATILES FROM EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL SOILS CAN BE PROCESSED TOGETHER TO PRODUCE OXYGEN AND FUELS SUCH AS METHANE FOR PROPULSION, REGENERATIVE POWER, AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM APPLICATIONS. PRESENT STATE OF THE ART ELECTROLYSIS STACKS USE A NICKELZIRCONIA COMPOSITE CATHODE. NICKEL BASED ELECTRODES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO OXIDATION BY THE FEED GAS (CO2 OR STEAM) AT THE INLET CONDITIONS UNLESS REDUCED SPECIES (CARBON MONOXIDE OR HYDROGEN) ARE ALSO PRESENT. THIS NECESSITATES A COMPLEX, RECYCLE LOOP THAT INTRODUCES A FRACTION OF THE PRODUCT GASES TO THE INLET.