Difference between revisions of "In Situ Resource Utilization"
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| − | '''In Situ Resource Utilization''' (''ISRU'') refers to the production of useful materials from the resources available at a given location. | + | '''In Situ Resource Utilization''' (''ISRU'') refers to the production of useful materials from the resources available at a given location. The phrase is from the Latin ''in situ'', meaning "at the site", or "in place." ISRU can be categorized into production of materials useful at the current location, primarily: life support, [[In-Situ Propellant Production | propellant]], radiation shielding, [[List of Construction Materials | construction]] and structural materials, and raw materials for other production useful for habitat expansion. |
It may be possible to commercialize these processes to produce commodity materials for use elsewhere in space, including propellent for further colonization and exploration as well as materials for habitats and spacecraft. Some of the commodities may also be sold back to earth. High value materials include rare isotopes deposited by the solar wind and [[Platinum Group Metals | platinum group metals]]. Bulk commodities consist of nickel and iron mined from asteroids, oxygen, aluminum and titanium from the moon, and other materials for manufacture of structures in space such as [[solar power satellites]]. | It may be possible to commercialize these processes to produce commodity materials for use elsewhere in space, including propellent for further colonization and exploration as well as materials for habitats and spacecraft. Some of the commodities may also be sold back to earth. High value materials include rare isotopes deposited by the solar wind and [[Platinum Group Metals | platinum group metals]]. Bulk commodities consist of nickel and iron mined from asteroids, oxygen, aluminum and titanium from the moon, and other materials for manufacture of structures in space such as [[solar power satellites]]. | ||
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==ISRU possible on the moon== | ==ISRU possible on the moon== | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| − | + | ===Construction Materials=== | |
| + | *[[Cast Basalt]]<BR> | ||
| + | *[[Structural Engineering|Lunar Cement]] | ||
| + | *[[Sulfurous Concrete]] | ||
| + | *[[Sintered Regolith]] | ||
| + | *[[Steam Injected Concrete]] | ||
===Rocket Fuel=== | ===Rocket Fuel=== | ||
see [[In-Situ Propellant Production]] | see [[In-Situ Propellant Production]] | ||
| − | + | ===Lunar Oxygen ([[LUNOX]])=== | |
| + | (see also listing on [[LUNOX]] page) | ||
| + | *[[Ilmenite Reduction]] | ||
| + | *[[Glass Reduction]] | ||
| + | *[[Fluorine reaction]] | ||
| + | *[[Magma electrolysis]] | ||
| + | *[[Aluminum reduction]] | ||
| + | *[[Carbothermal reduction]] | ||
| + | *[[Methane reduction]] | ||
===Metals=== | ===Metals=== | ||
Revision as of 07:09, 8 December 2011
In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) refers to the production of useful materials from the resources available at a given location. The phrase is from the Latin in situ, meaning "at the site", or "in place." ISRU can be categorized into production of materials useful at the current location, primarily: life support, propellant, radiation shielding, construction and structural materials, and raw materials for other production useful for habitat expansion.
It may be possible to commercialize these processes to produce commodity materials for use elsewhere in space, including propellent for further colonization and exploration as well as materials for habitats and spacecraft. Some of the commodities may also be sold back to earth. High value materials include rare isotopes deposited by the solar wind and platinum group metals. Bulk commodities consist of nickel and iron mined from asteroids, oxygen, aluminum and titanium from the moon, and other materials for manufacture of structures in space such as solar power satellites.
Contents
ISRU possible on the moon
Construction Materials
Rocket Fuel
see In-Situ Propellant Production
Lunar Oxygen (LUNOX)
(see also listing on LUNOX page)
- Ilmenite Reduction
- Glass Reduction
- Fluorine reaction
- Magma electrolysis
- Aluminum reduction
- Carbothermal reduction
- Methane reduction
Metals
Lunar Gasses (other than oxygen)
- Hydrogen from electrolysis of Lunar Polar water and regolith deposits
- Helium including Helium 3.
- Argon
- Nitrogen
- Neon
- Radon
- Carbon Dioxide
- Carbon Monoxide
- Methane
- Hydrogen Sulfide
Related Articles
- LUNOX
- Ore Bodies
- Value of commodities
- Lunar outgassing
- List of Resources
- List of Construction Materials
