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The role of chemical engineering in space manufacturingA survey of factors involved in space manufacturing is presented. It is shown that it will be more economical to obtain the necessary raw materials from the moon than from earth due to earth's greater gravity and atmosphere. Discussion covers what resources can be mined and recovered from the moon and what ranges of industrial feedstock can be provided from lunar materials, noting that metallurgy will be different in space due to the lack of key elements such as H, C, Na, Cl, etc. Also covered are chemical plant design, space environmental factors such as vacuum and zero gravity, recycling requirments, reagent and equipment mass, and unit operations such as materials handling and phase separation. It is concluded that a pilot plant in space could be an economic boon to mankind.
Document ID
19790066222
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Waldron, R. D.
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Criswell, D. R.
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, Tex., United States)
Erstfeld, T. E.
(Lockheed Electronics Co., Inc. Plainfield, N.J., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
February 12, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Chemical Engineering
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
79A50235
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSR-09-051-001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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