NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Molten Materials Transfer and Handling on the Lunar SurfaceElectrolytic reduction processes as a means to provide pure elements for lunar resource utilization have many advantages. Such processes have. the potential of removing all the oxygen from the lunar soil for use in life support and for propellant. Electrochemical reduction also provides a direct path for the. production of pure metals and silicon which can be utilized for in situ manufacturing and power production. Some of the challenges encountered in the electrolytic reduction processes include the feeding of the electrolytic cell (the transfer of electrolyte containing lunar soil), the withdrawal of reactants and refined products such as the liquidiron~siliconalloy with a number of impurities, and the spent regolith slag, produced in the hot electrolytic cell for the reduction of lunar regolith. The paper will discuss some of the possible solutions to the challenges of handling molten materials on the lunar surface, as well as the path toward the construction and testing of a proof-of-concept facility.
Document ID
20080015650
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Stefanescu, Doru M.
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Curreri, Peter A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Sen, Subhayu
(BAE Systems Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
February 10, 2008
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF)
Location: Albuquerque
Country: Mexico
Start Date: February 10, 2008
End Date: February 14, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available