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Microwave Sinterator Freeform Additive Construction System (MS-FACS)The harmful properties of lunar dust, such as small size, glass composition, abnormal surface area, and coatings of imbedded nanophase iron, lead to a unique coupling of the dust with microwave radiation. This coupling can be exploited for rapid sintering of lunar soil for use as a construction material that can be formed to take on an infinite number of shapes and sizes. This work describes a system concept for building structures on the lunar surface using lunar regolith (soil). This system uses the ATHLETE (All-Terrain Hex- Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer) mobility system as a positioning system with a microwave print head (similar to that of a smaller-scale 3D printer). A processing system delivers the lunar regolith to the microwave print head, where the microwave print head/chamber lays down a layer of melted regolith. An arm on the ATHLETE system positions the layer depending on the desired structure.
Document ID
20130009415
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
Authors
Howe, Alan S.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Wilcox, Brian H.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Barmatz, Martin B.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Mercury, Michael B.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Siebert, Michael A.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Rieber, Richard R.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2013
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, January 2013
Subject Category
Structural Mechanics
Report/Patent Number
NPO-48291
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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