End-to-end mission design for microbial ISRU activities as preparation for a moon village
- Paper number
IAC-18,A3,2C,6,x42648
- Author
Mr. Benjamin Lehner, The Netherlands, TU Delft
- Coauthor
Mr. Jonathan Schlechten, Switzerland, ESA
- Coauthor
Mr. Andrea Filosa, Italy, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
- Coauthor
Mr. Alberto Canals Pou, Spain, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC BarcelonaTech)
- Coauthor
Mr. Daniele Giuseppe Mazzotta, Italy, Politecnico di Torino
- Coauthor
Mr. Francesco Spina, Sweden, Luleå University of Technology
- Coauthor
Mr. Leo Teeney, Germany, ESA
- Coauthor
Dr. Jessica Snyder, United States, USRA / NASA Ames Research Center
- Coauthor
Mrs. Saffira Tjon, The Netherlands, TU Delft
- Coauthor
Dr. Stan Brouns, The Netherlands, TU Delft
- Coauthor
Dr. Aidan Cowley, Germany, ESA
- Coauthor
Prof. Lynn Rothschild, United States, NASA Ames Research Center
- Year
2018
- Abstract
One first necessity for a lunar settlement is to determine the potential of elemental extraction and utilization methods in situ. In this study, all requirements to test a novel, biological approach for ISRU are validated, and an end-to-end mission architecture is designed. The general mission consists of a lander with a fully autonomous bioreactor able to process lunar regolith and extract elemental iron. The elemental iron could either be stored or directly utilized to generate iron wires or construction material. To maximize the success rate of this mission potential landing sites for future missions are studied and technical details (thermal radiation, shielding, power-supply) are analyzed. The final chapter will assess the potential mission architecture (orbit, rocket, lander, timeframe) as well as a cost estimation. This design might not only be one step further towards an international moon village but may also enable similar missions to ultimately colonize Mars and further explore our solar system.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-18,A3,2C,6,x42648.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.