End-to-end mission design for microbial ISRU activities as preparation for a moon village

Journal article (2019)

Authors

B. Lehner BN/Stan Brouns Lab - AS
J. Schlechten Université de Genève
A. Filosa Politecnico di Milano
A. Canals Pou Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
D. G. Mazzotta Politecnico di Torino
F. Spina Luleå Univ. of Technology
S. Y. Tjon Student
Anne S. Meyer University of Rochester
S.J.J. Brouns BN/Stan Brouns Lab - AS
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Research Group
BN/Stan Brouns Lab (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 B. Lehner, J. Schlechten, A. Filosa, A. Canals Pou, D. G. Mazzotta, F. Spina, S. Y. Tjon, A. S. Meyer, S.J.J. Brouns, More Authors
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.06.001
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

BN/Bionanoscience

Research Group

BN/Stan Brouns Lab

Abstract

In situ resource utilization (ISRU) increasingly features as an element of human long-term exploration and settlement missions to the lunar surface. In this study, all requirements to test a novel, biological approach for ISRU are validated, and an end-to-end mission architecture is proposed. 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 section will assess the potential mission architecture (orbit, rocket, lander, timeframe). 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.

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