OLI Systems, a global leader in water chemistry simulation, has partnered with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) on a NASA-funded initiative to expand the understanding of extreme extraterrestrial environments. Under NASA’s Habitable Worlds program, this research enhances OLI’s thermodynamic modeling capabilities to simulate the chemical conditions of icy moons and distant oceans, supporting astrobiological research and future space missions.
OLI’s software, widely used in corrosion prevention, scale management and water treatment, will extend to modeling conditions beyond Earth. This project refines thermodynamic databases and models to simulate interactions between water, minerals and dissolved compounds under high pressures, sub-zero temperatures and variable salinity—key to understanding subsurface oceans on icy worlds. These enhancements enable researchers to create digital twins of extraterrestrial environments, identifying potentially habitable zones and informing future space exploration.
Beyond astrobiology, this research has long-term implications for space resource extraction. As industry explores the potential for extraterrestrial mining, understanding fluid chemistry, mineral solubility and geochemical interactions will be critical for identifying and processing resources in extreme environments.
“This collaboration allows us to extend our expertise in chemistry modeling to one of the most exciting frontiers—astrobiology,” said Dr. Andre Anderko, Chief Technology Officer at OLI Systems. “By advancing our software to model extreme extraterrestrial conditions, we provide scientists with powerful tools to simulate environments that were previously beyond reach, while also reducing the risks and costs of future exploratory missions.”
The NASA-funded project underscores the versatility and precision of OLI’s modeling capabilities. Understanding chemical behavior in high-pressure, high-salinity and low-temperature environments is critical not just for space exploration but also for industries such as deep-sea exploration, geothermal energy and sustainable process design.