Solar System Exploration Augmented by In Situ Resource Utilization: Lunar Base Issues

Abstract

Creating a presence and an industrial capability on the Moon is essential for the development of humankind. There are many historical study results that have identified and quantified the lunar resources and analyzed the methods of obtaining and employing those resources. The idea of finding, obtaining, and using these materials is called in situ resource utilization (ISRU). The ISRU research and development efforts have led to new ideas in rocket propulsion. Applications in chemical propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion, and many other propulsion systems will be critical in making the initial lunar base and future lunar industries more sustainable and will lead to brilliant futures for humanity.

Solar System Exploration Augmented by In Situ Resource Utilization: System Analyses, Vehicles, and Moon Bases for Saturn Exploration

“…The nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) vehicles or orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) are described by the following mass scaling equation. The dry mass scaling equation used was [31][32][33][34][35] Mdry, stage ( kg ) = reactor specific mass ( kg / kW ) • P ( kWe ) + 0.05 • Mp ( kg ) + fixed mass ( kg )…”

“…The power level of the reactor was 10 MWe, and the reactor specific mass was 10 kg/kWe. The propellant tankage dry mass fraction was 5%, and the fixed mass was 20 MT [31]. Additional mission assumptions are discussed in the next sections.…”

“…The chemically propelled oxygen/hydrogen propulsion landers were described with a mass scaling equation. In sizing the chemical propulsion landers, a vehicle mass scaling equation was used [31][32][33][34][35]:…”

“…With the very large delta-V missions at Titan, the B coefficient was 0.2. The lander specific impulse was 480 seconds [31,[36][37][38]. Table 3.…”