Microwave Heating of Frozen Water Ice/Lunar Regolith for Water Extraction
- Paper number
IAC-09.A3.2INT.22
- Author
Dr. Alex Ignatiev, University of Houston, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Jarek Wosik, University of Houston, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Ali Zomorrodian, University of Houston, United States
- Year
2009
- Abstract
The possible presence of frozen water ice at the lunar poles opens up the possibility of utilization of that water as a key element in support of a lunar base. The lunar polar water needs to be extracted from the permanently frozen crater regions at the poles. Since these regions are believed to be at temperatures of ~ 40-60K, unique ways of extractions need to be developed which can survive that severe thermal environment integrated with the vacuum environment of the Moon. This is proposed to be accomplished by a non-mechanical process. For this purpose microwave heating of the ice/regolith complex is proposed with capture of the water vapor over the heated region and transport of the water vapor by pressure differential to a cold trap to re-solidify the water to ice for future use. Lunar regolith simulant (JSC-1 equivalent) and simulant with nanophase iron (Orbitec) have been exposed to microwaves to determine their dielectric properties in the frequency range of 2.0 to 12 GHz. The properties of the dry samples of regolith simulant were measured at liquid nitrogen temperature (77K), and will be compared to microwave properties of wet regolith with water content of from 1% to 5% also at 77K. The dielectric properties of regolith as a function of temperature from 77K to 300K have also been measured, and will be used to determine yield of water vapor from microwave heated water ice/lunar regolith s a proof of concept processing for water extraction from the Moon.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)