NASA’s Glenn Research Center is supporting several technology development activities for the In-Situ Resource Utilization Project (sponsored by NASA’s Exploration Technology and Development Program Office) to develop methods and facilities to efficiently use lunar resources – primarily regolith (lunar soil). Glenn is working with Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Ames Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Lab on this effort. Several small businesses, aerospace companies, academic, and industrial partners are also contributing to the project.

These activities are exploring how regolith may be processed and used to obtain oxygen, water, radiation shielding, and construction materials. Using lunar soil in these ways will allow astronauts to “live off the land” on the moon. It would require much less material to be shipped from Earth to the moon – saving money and reducing the weight of cargo on the spacecraft. For every pound that lands on the moon, seven pounds will have to be launched from Earth.

Cratos completing the simulated regolith collection and delivery demonstration in Glenn's Simulated Lunar Operations (SLOPE) facility.

The In-Situ Resource Utilization Project consists of the following technology development areas:

1. Excavation and Construction: harvesting lunar soil to produce oxygen and hydrogen; and perform construction tasks.

2. Oxygen production facilities: establish processing plants on the moon that produce oxygen from lunar regolith at a rate of one metric ton (or more) per year.

Delivered Regolith Volatile Characterization (RVC) reactor (without surface heating and insulation).

Lunar Resource and ISRU Demonstration: RESOLVE (Regolith & Environment Science and Oxygen & Lunar Volatile Extraction): develop unit that characterizes mineral, volatile, and water/ice resources (and depth below surface) and demonstrates subscale oxygen extraction from regolith.

3. Earth facilities/modeling: develop test facilities that simulate the lunar environment while considering the unique temperature, soil properties, dust particles and vacuum atmosphere on the moon.

Surveyor digger on Smithsonian Prototype extension that was used by the Apollo 12 crew for training.

The harsh environment on the moon makes it especially challenging to establish resource utilization facilities. These facilities must function efficiently for extended periods of time without requiring hardware repairs and maintenance. Once the facilities are operational, lunar soil will be used to produce essential consumables like oxygen and water for the crew. As astronauts become more self-sufficient on the moon, the amount and cost of the resources that must be sent from Earth can be reduced and the duration of their missions can be extended.

 

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Contact at NASA Glenn Research Center
Chief,  Advanced Capabilities Project Office: Ann P. Over
Space Flight Systems Directorate / Advanced Flight Projects Office
216-433-6535