A lunar In Situ Resource Utilization Nuclear powered mission

Paper number

IAC-06-C3.4.-D3.4.03

Author

Dr. Elvina Finzi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Andrea Davighi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Giovanni Giardini, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Mrs. Amalia Ercoli Finzi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Year

2006

Abstract

Successful in-situ resources utilization (ISRU) is a key element to allow the human presence on Mars or the Moon. In fact the limited nowadays launch capabilities do not allow a relative low cost long duration mission.
A human base on lunar surface will require oxygen enough to permit the presence of the astronauts, this oxygen could be extracted from the lunar regolith as nearly half the weight of lunar surface material is oxygen.
Besides oxygen production, the Moon can also be the place to test concepts for habitat construction, radiation shielding and extraction of other indigenous materials.
The task of this mission is to process the regolith extracted by the lunar surface in order to extract the oxygen required.
This mission is not intended to be a technological demonstrator, but the proof that In Situ Resource Utilization can really fulfill the oxygen requirements of a real human base requiring two metric tons of oxygen per month.
The ISRU mission requires three different modules to be launched: the two ISRU power plant modules and the  nuclear reactor module.
The first ISRU module is mainly composed by a beneficiation subsystem, in the second module the heating and the chemical processes occur.
The third module contains a nuclear reactor: an Integrated Pressurized Water Reactor designed to produce 100 kWe continuously.
The resulting systems appear feasible and of a size comparable to other ISRU mission designs. This mission seems challenging not only for the ISRU technology to be demonstrated, but also for the space  nuclear reactor considered; Though this seems the only way to allow a permanent human presence on Moon surface.

Abstract document

IAC-06-C3.4.-D3.4.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-C3.4.-D3.4.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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