This report from NASA offers some insight into the ways that technology can link space and terrestrial mining and construction. Review the full presentation here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Yff9bU_0tRFGPXMt_2RLX4hu3r6U-B_/view
Space Resources and Their Uses: The idea of using resources in space to support human
exploration and settlement or for economic development and profit beyond the surface of Earth
has been proposed and discussed for decades. Work on developing a method to extract oxygen
from lunar regolith started even before humans set foot on the Moon for the first time. The use of
space resources, commonly referred to as In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), involves the
processes and operations to harness and utilize resources in space (both natural and discarded) to
create products for subsequent use. Potential space resources include water, solar wind implanted
volatiles (hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, etc.), vast quantities of metals and minerals in
extraterrestrial soils, atmospheric constituents, unlimited solar energy, regions of permanent light
and darkness, the vacuum and zero-gravity of space itself, trash and waste from human crew
activities, and discarded hardware that has completed its primary purpose. ISRU covers a wide
variety of concepts, technical disciplines, technologies, and processes. When considering all
aspects of ISRU, there are 5 main areas that are relevant to human space exploration and the
commercialization of space: 1. Resource Characterization and Mapping, 2. In Situ Consumables
Production, 3. Civil Engineering and Construction, 4. In Situ Energy Production and Storage, and
5. In Situ Manufacturing.
ISRU & Terrestrial Mining: There are four areas where development and utilization of space
resources is highly synergistic with terrestrial needs: Food/Water Production, Mining,
Construction, and Energy. When considering space resources, especially the areas of mining and
processing of resources into usable commodities, ISRU developers have adopted and modified
terrestrial approaches to come up with the Space Mining Cycle, or ‘Prospect to Product’. For both
space and terrestrial mining, the first step is prospecting; first globally and then locally to find and
characterize (physical, mineral, and volatile) the resources that exist, as well as the terrain and the
geological context in which the resource is found. Once the resource has been sufficiently
characterized and mapped, mining and resource processing can be begin. As with terrestrial
mining, subscale feasibility and pilot operations are performed to verify that the resource can be
extracted, that performance and maintenance goals can be achieved, and that the product meets
quality expectations.
In the last two years, NASA has focused on developing and implementing a sustainable human
space exploration program with the ultimate goal of exploring the surface of Mars with humans.
The plan involves developing technology and capability building blocks critical for sustained
exploration, such as ISRU. The evolvable plan develops and expands human exploration in phases
starting with missions that are reliant on Earth, to performing ever more challenging and longer
duration missions in cis-lunar space and beyond, to eventually being independent from Earth.
As these missions progress, human presence will also evolve from a few days, to weeks and months,
to semi and permanent presence in space. Because the crew may not be present during space
mining operations, or because ISRU products may need to be produced before the crew arrives to
reduce mission risk, reliable communication for remote operations, autonomy, and high reliability
are extremely important for ISRU to be successful incorporated into human mission plans.
ISRU & Terrestrial Mining Challenges: When considering the implementation of space
resource utilization into plans for the human exploration of space, there are three primary
challenges: space resource challenges, ISRU technical challenges, and operation and integration
challenges. Even though NASA has sent robotic probes to the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, and
astronauts have returned samples from the Moon, there are still significant challenges associated
with using space resources. What resources exist at the destination of interest, what are the
uncertainties associated with the known resources that could cause problems, and what are the
variations in resources that might be encountered? As in terrestrial mining, robotic and human
prospecting will be required. Since the extraction and processing of resources in space has never
been demonstrated, technical challenges exist that must be overcome. Is it technically feasible to
collect, extract, and process the resource present? Is it possible to operate continuously for long
periods of time with limited involvement from the crew or Earth for control and maintenance?
Finally, to achieve the full benefits of extracting and using space resources, ISRU operations must
be performed in severe environments (radiation, abrasive dust, and low or micro-gravity
conditions), and other systems must be designed to accept products from ISRU operations. This
is particularly challenging for space applications since NASA will be working with space agencies
around the world. Therefore, product quality, common standards, and common interfaces will
need to be defined and implemented. As with terrestrial mining, ISRU must provide a return on
investment with respect to mass, cost, and risk reductions compared to missions that do not include
ISRU. The return on investment will be significantly affected by how much and how often space
resource products are used, and by what missions or exploration activities are enabled with these
products that could not otherwise be achieved.
ISRU & Terrestrial Mining Common Areas of Interest: While space and terrestrial mining
might seem worlds apart, the fact that both have common challenges means that both can have
common interests and solutions. The list below is not meant to be all inclusive but to highlight
some of the most obvious areas of common interest between space and terrestrial mining so that
further discussions can delve deeper and expand the list.
Remote/Autonomous Operations. As easily assessable resources become harder and harder to
find, terrestrial mining has had to venture into more remote and hostile environments (artic,
underwater, deeper). As this occurs, the cost and safety of personnel involvement increases to the
extent that remote and autonomous operations become economical. Because astronaut time is
valuable and limited, remote and autonomous operation of ISRU is required.
Regenerative ‘Green’ Power. All space operations are limited due to two things: propulsion
(transportation) and power availability. As the high cost and particulate concerns associated with
diesel fuel, terrestrial mining will need to incorporate more environmentally friendly and
renewable energy solutions. Both regenerative/hydrocarbon fuel cells and collection and
conversion of carbon dioxide are critical to both the space and mining industries
Dust Mitigation/Severe Environment Operation. As stated under Remote/Autonomous
Operations, terrestrial mining is venturing into more remote and hostile environments. Mining in
space requires the ability to potentially encounter and handle extreme temperatures as well as
temperature swings, the vacuum of space, and severe radiation. Even worse, since space soils, or
regolith, are not exposed to wind and rain weathering conditions on Earth, the dust is extremely
fine, sharp, hard, and abrasive. Lubricants are difficult to incorporate into space hardware that
must operate continuously for long periods of time, so dust mitigation for mining, power systems,
and crew operations is critical.
High Reliability/High Performance. To provide a return on investment for space mining, the
infrastructure required for prospecting, excavation, extraction/processing, product storage, and
power needs to be compared to just brining the product in the first place. Therefore, the more
efficient the end-to-end process, the faster/greater return on investment.
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