Bioreactor design to perform microbial mining activities on another celestial body
- Paper number
IAC-18,D3,3,9,x42646
- Author
Mr. Rik Volger, The Netherlands, TU Delft
- Coauthor
Dr. Stan Brouns, The Netherlands, TU Delft
- Coauthor
Dr. Aidan Cowley, Germany, ESA
- Coauthor
Dr. Cristian Picioreanu, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
- Coauthor
Mr. Benjamin Lehner, The Netherlands, TU Delft
- Year
2018
- Abstract
Transporting materials from Earth to the Moon adds additional costs to a mission and limits other mission activities. Thus, a sustained settlement on any celestial body will be enhanced if it can perform elemental extraction and utilization in situ. In this study, all requirements to test a novel, biological approach for ISRU are validated. We present designs for a lander with a fully autonomous bioreactor, capable of taking in lunar regolith and extracting pure elements from it via biological processes. Simulations and 3D models of the bioreactor and complete lander will clarify its benefits as well as limitations in comparison to other mining approaches. Furthermore, the interconnection with additional biological systems (human astronauts, life support systems, etc.) is assessed in terms of nutrient recycling and self-sufficiency. The bioreactor design may be a new building-block for a variety of future missions and could pave the way towards a more sustainable future in space exploration.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-18,D3,3,9,x42646.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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