Applying Terrestrial Geo-Material Science Methodology to Lunar ISRU Construction
Publication: Earth and Space 2021
ABSTRACT
Building on research underway for military and expeditionary construction, this research aims to establish methods for the design and testing of the materials mixtures derived from the lunar surface with minimal or no additives that need to be transported from the Earth. This paper will review opportunities and challenges of demonstrated and experimental construction methods such as concreting and sintering as well as discuss the need to evaluate and develop these methods using regolith simulants more representative of the lunar highlands where the NASA Artemis mission proposes to land in both its mineralogical and agglutinated properties. Advanced materials research based on accurate chemical and physical characteristics of extraterrestrial materials is among the first steps towards establishing a methodology that will form a proposed future ASCE Manual of Practice for evaluating and implementing best practices for in-situ lunar construction.
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Earth and Space 2021
Pages: 171 - 180
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Apr 15, 2021
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