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Isru

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Seismic clues reveal buried lunar ice for future moon bases
science18 days ago

Seismic clues reveal buried lunar ice for future moon bases

A new Science Advances study shows that buried water ice in the Moon’s permanently shadowed polar regions can be detected with surface seismic surveys: frozen regolith increases P-wave speed, enabling ice mapping down to about 800 meters. Lab experiments with lunar-like regolith and early flight tests underpin this approach, which is slated for real-world testing by China’s Chang’e 7 and NASA’s Artemis missions to locate ice for on-site water and rocket propellant production for future lunar bases.

via Futura, le média qui explore le monde|
#isru#lunar-ice#lunar-regolith
Sunlight Turns Lunar Soil Into Oxygen and Fuel in Lab Demonstration
space1 month ago

Sunlight Turns Lunar Soil Into Oxygen and Fuel in Lab Demonstration

In a July 2025 lab test, researchers using material from China’s Chang’e-5 mission concentrated sunlight to heat lunar soil, releasing water and driving reactions with carbon dioxide to produce oxygen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a single photothermal process. While this demonstrates an integrated ISRU approach, it is not a full lunar plant and cannot yet support life or propellant production; it suggests future bases could produce water, oxygen and fuels on site, reducing Earth shipments—though an illustrative $83,000-per-gallon mass-penalty figure remains just an estimate, not current launch pricing.

via Space Daily|
#change-5#isru#lunar
Titan: Saturn’s Resource-Rich Moon as a Blueprint for a Space Colony
space1 month ago

Titan: Saturn’s Resource-Rich Moon as a Blueprint for a Space Colony

NASA-backed research argues Titan’s abundance of hydrocarbons, surface and subsurface water, and a dense atmosphere could enable in-situ resource utilization to fuel, feed, and manufacture for long-range missions and potential settlements, including refueling depots and bases that could support exploration of Saturn’s moons; Titan’s unique mix makes it a leading contender despite the significant distance and challenge, with NASA’s Dragonfly mission on the horizon and helium-3 in Saturn’s atmosphere adding fusion-fuel interest.

via SciTechDaily|
#dragonfly#isru#nasa
Moon's South Pole Ice: A Frozen Resource for Future Space Missions
space2 months ago

Moon's South Pole Ice: A Frozen Resource for Future Space Missions

New NASA-backed evidence confirms water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s south pole, where cold traps keep volatiles frozen. If extractable, this ice could supply drinking water, oxygen for breathing, and hydrogen fuel for future missions, reducing Earth-launched mass and enabling in-situ resource utilization, though accessing and processing the material presents significant technical and preservation challenges.

via Space Daily|
#isru#lunar-missions#moon
Titan as a Space Refueling Hub for Deep-Space Missions
science2 months ago

Titan as a Space Refueling Hub for Deep-Space Missions

A peer‑reviewed NASA‑backed study argues Titan’s abundant hydrocarbons and organics could support in‑situ resource utilization, enabling fuel, plastics and other materials to be produced on Titan for long‑duration missions. While Titan could serve as a crucial stopover rather than a permanent base, the harsh environment—cryogenic temperatures, higher atmospheric pressure, low gravity, and oxygen production needs—poses significant challenges for on‑site manufacturing.

via Futurism|
#dragonfly#hydrocarbons#isru
Titan's Rich Resources Could Power a Solar System Refueling Network
space2 months ago

Titan's Rich Resources Could Power a Solar System Refueling Network

A NASA-supported study inventories Titan’s abundant hydrocarbons, water (about 50% of its mass, with surface ice and a subsurface reservoir kept liquid by antifreeze), and other resources, arguing Titan could support long‑term habitats, resupply depots, and on‑site manufacturing, enabling refueling for missions to the outer Solar System and beyond. Compared with the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, Titan’s unique mix of atmospheric hydrocarbons, surface/ subsurface water, and potential feedstocks could make it a central hub for interplanetary travel, with surface and orbital infrastructure and even export of fuels and goods; the Dragonfly mission (no earlier than 2028) will help assess these prospects.

via Universe Today|
#dragonfly#isru#refueling
The Pros and Cons of Mining Celestial Bodies
space-exploration3 years ago

The Pros and Cons of Mining Celestial Bodies

The prospect of mining resources on the Moon and asteroids is an exciting possibility in the new era of space exploration. The Moon is believed to have water ice that could be used for drinking water and rocket fuel, while asteroids contain valuable elements like platinum. However, space mining is still uncharted territory, and the economic viability of extracting and processing these resources needs to be thoroughly analyzed. NASA and private space companies are laying the groundwork for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) operations, but the logistics and costs of space mining are yet to be fully understood. Nonetheless, the potential for a space mining industry to thrive and fuel a secondary economy is promising.

via Gizmodo|
#asteroids#isru#moon
Airbus' Lunar Regolith System Extracts Oxygen and Metal.
space3 years ago

Airbus' Lunar Regolith System Extracts Oxygen and Metal.

Airbus has developed the Regolith to OXYgen and Metals Conversion (ROXY) system, which extracts oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. The process is environmentally friendly and can be used to manufacture tools, equipment, and structures on the Moon. ROXY is a collaboration between Airbus, various universities, and other companies. The technology has potential implications for future lunar exploration missions and could be used to support billions of people on the Moon.

via Universe Today|
#airbus#isru#lunar-exploration