Cost Breakeven Analysis of Lunar In-Situ Propellant Production for Human Missions to the Moon and Mars

Volatile-bearing lunar surface and interior, giant magmatic-intrusion-laden near and far side, globally distributed layer of purest anorthosite (PAN) and discovery of Mg-Spinel anorthosite, a new rock type, represent just a sample of the brand new perspectives gained in lunar science in the last decade. An armada of missions sent by multiple nations and sophisticated analyses of the precious lunar samples have led to rapid evolution in the understanding of the Moon, leading to major new findings, including evidence for water in the lunar interior. Fundamental insights have been obtained about impact cratering, the crystallization of the lunar magma ocean and conditions during the origin of the Moon. The implications of this understanding go beyond the Moon and are therefore of key importance in solar system science. These new views of the Moon have challenged the previous understanding in multiple ways and are setting a new paradigm for lunar exploration in the coming decade both for science and resource exploration. Missions from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and several private ventures promise continued exploration of the Moon in the coming years, which will further enrich the understanding of our closest neighbor. The Moon remains a key scientific destination, an active testbed for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities, an outpost to study the universe and a future spaceport for supporting planetary missions.

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The fabrication of silicon solar cells on the moon using in-situ resources

10.2514/6.2002-465 ◽

2002 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Ignatiev ◽

A. Freundlich ◽

M. Duke ◽

S. Rosenberg

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

The Moon

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Structure in the upper lunar crust

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.1977.0089 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 285 (1327) ◽

pp. 469-473 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Keyword(s):

Thermal Conductivity ◽

Elastic Moduli ◽

Velocity Profiles ◽

Depth Range ◽

The Moon ◽

Rock Layer ◽

Lunar Crust ◽

Seismic Profiles ◽

Lunar Samples

Estimates are made of the degree of lithification and of structure densities which are compatible with lunar in situ seismic profiles in the top 30 km of the Moon. Estimates are based on comparison of results of passive and active lunar seismic experiments with the pressure dependence of elastic moduli for various classes of lunar samples. Competent rock, such as igneous rock or recrystallized breccias with crack porosity of not more than about 0.5 % are required to satisfy velocity profiles in the depth range 1-30 km. Velocity profiles in the upper 1 km are best satisfied by comminuted material to highly fractured lithic units. These estimates constrain those thermal and shock histories which are compatible with lunar seismic results. After crystallization, or recrystallization, rock below 1 km cannot have been exposed to more than moderate shock levels. In the uppermost 1 km, an unannealed and broken rock layer would imply low thermal conductivity resulting in possible temperatures at 1 km depth of several hundred kelvins.

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The Future of Sustainable utilization of resources on the Moon: a new international legal regime?

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2018 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Diego De Blasi

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Outer Space ◽

Critical Issue ◽

Sustainable Utilization ◽

The Moon ◽

The Future ◽

Celestial Bodies ◽

Lunar Environment ◽

Space Activities

Outer space activities are increasingly bringing the international (scientific) community to upper stages of knowledge and awareness. With particular reference to Lunar exploration, general involvement of all States (also within a context of public-private partnerships initiatives) towards the principle of sustainable utilization of lunar resources shall represent an important requirement for the future of all Mankind Thus, the safeguarding of lunar environment (the equitable/intragenerational utilization of its resources) shall represent a critical issue for the whole evolutionary framework of the Corpus Iuris SpatialisFirstly, the principle herein shall be taken into examination under the provisions laid down in the Agreement governing the Activities of States on the Moon and other Celestial Bodies. Accordingly, article 11 states &#8220;the moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of mankind&#8221;[..]; as well, &#8220;The moon is not subject to national appropriation by any claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means..&#8221; (paragraph 2)&#160; Secondly, other concerns may also take into account: a) the perspective of ISRU (in situ resources utilization) processes, which shall take place towards sustainability means b) the undertaking of well balanced measures in exploring and using natural resources vis-&#224;-vis adverse changes in lunar environment (article 7, par. 1, Moon Treaty). In addition, besides the terms pursuant to the establishment of peaceful use of (space) lunar activities, an adequate consensus shall be called upon States beyond the status quo&#160;&#160; In conclusion, the aferomentioned background shall also consider the adoption of a comprehensive Additional Protocol to the Moon Treaty concerning the sustainable utilization of lunar resources. Arguably, this progressive framework may also be welcomed as milestones towards further legal developments in international space law&#160;&#160;&#160;

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Implantation of ions escaping the atmosphere of Mars within the regolith of Phobos, and Phobos’ surface ion weathering

10.5194/epsc2020-458 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Quentin Nénon ◽

Andrew R Poppe ◽

Ali Rahmati ◽

James P McFadden

Keyword(s):

Solar Wind ◽

Atomic Oxygen ◽

The Moon ◽

Ion Composition ◽

Atmospheric Escape ◽

The Past ◽

Lunar Samples ◽

Singly Charged

Mars has lost and is losing its atmosphere into space. Strong evidences of this come from the observation of planetary singly charged heavy ions (atomic oxygen, molecular oxygen, carbon dioxide ions) by Mars Express and MAVEN. Phobos, the closest moon of Mars, orbits only 6,000 kilometers above the red planet&#8217;s surface and is therefore a unique vantage point of the planetary atmospheric escape, with the escaping ions being implanted within the regolith of Phobos and altering the properties of the moon&#8217;s surface. In this presentation, we aggregate all ion observations gathered in-situ close to the orbit of Phobos by three ion instruments onboard MAVEN, from 2015 to 2019, to constrain the long-term averaged ion environment seen by the Martian moon at all longitudes along its orbit. In particular, the SupraThermal and Thermal Ion Composition (STATIC) instrument onboard MAVEN distinguishes between solar wind and planetary ions. The newly constrained long-term ion environment seen by Phobos is combined with numerical simulations of ion transport and effects in matter. This way, we find that planetary ions are implanted on the near side of Phobos (pointing towards Mars) inside the uppermost tens of nanometers of regolith grains. The composition of near-side grains that may be sampled by future Phobos sample return missions is therefore not only contaminated by planetary ions, as seen in lunar samples with the terrestrial atmosphere, but may show a unique record of the past atmosphere of Mars. The long-term fluxes of planetary ions precipitating onto Phobos are so intense that these ions weather the moon&#8217;s surface as much as or more than solar wind ions. In particular, Martian ions accelerate the long-term sputtering and amorphization of the near side regolith by a factor of 2. Another implication is that ion weathering is highly asymmetric between the near side and far side of Phobos.

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