Demonstration of concept for fabrication of lunar physical assets utilizing lunar regolith simulant and a geothermite reaction

NASA's anticipated return to the Moon by 2020 and subsequent establishment of a lunar base will necessitate the development of methods to utilize lunar resources for various construction and resource extraction applications. In this study the design of a lunar physical asset utilizing in-situ r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa astronautica Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 38 - 45
Main Authors Faierson, Eric J., Logan, Kathryn V., Stewart, Brian K., Hunt, Michael P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2010
Subjects
Dome
Habitat
ISRU
Moon
Regolith
SHS
Habitat
Dome
Regolith
Moon
ISRU
SHS
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Summary:NASA's anticipated return to the Moon by 2020 and subsequent establishment of a lunar base will necessitate the development of methods to utilize lunar resources for various construction and resource extraction applications. In this study the design of a lunar physical asset utilizing in-situ resources available at the lunar surface was examined. The design incorporated a voussoir dome type of architecture that has been in use for centuries on Earth. Production of the desired dome elements was accomplished by initiating a geothermite reaction in a mixture of lunar regolith simulant and aluminum powder. Shaping of voussoir elements was accomplished during the reaction using a custom fabricated silica-slip crucible to contain the geothermite reactant mixture. The product of the reaction retained the shape of the crucible.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0094-5765
1879-2030
DOI:10.1016/j.actaastro.2009.12.006