Luna Connect Lunar Concret Mixer a Rasc-Al 2024 & Capstone Project
Faculty Mentor Name
Davide Conte, Richard Magnum
Format Preference
Poster
Abstract
With a renewed interest in lunar exploration and the launch of NASA’s Artemis 1 in November 2022, as well as planned future work on the Moon’s surface in subsequent Artemis missions, the need for lunar habitats is becoming more pertinent. Proposals involving modules sent up by rockets to lunar orbit have been mentioned, however, a more sustainable solution might involve utilizing lunar regolith to create a concrete-like building material. Luna Connect aims to create a mixer for producing a lunar concrete, mostly using other materials that can be found on the Moon or produced by astronauts, such as potato starch and water. This design has the possibility to be scaled up, made space-ready, and deployed onto the lunar surface, creating a material that requires less cost and waste than other solutions. This alternative is especially attractive compared to solutions relying heavily on materials produced Earth-side and transported to the lunar surface, reducing both emissions and cost-per-mix. Luna Connect has envisioned and is building a prototype, as well as testing various ingredient ratios to determine the best workability. The team hopes this knowledge will help inform any further iterations and has developed a mission architecture for deployment on the moon.
Luna Connect Lunar Concret Mixer a Rasc-Al 2024 & Capstone Project
With a renewed interest in lunar exploration and the launch of NASA’s Artemis 1 in November 2022, as well as planned future work on the Moon’s surface in subsequent Artemis missions, the need for lunar habitats is becoming more pertinent. Proposals involving modules sent up by rockets to lunar orbit have been mentioned, however, a more sustainable solution might involve utilizing lunar regolith to create a concrete-like building material. Luna Connect aims to create a mixer for producing a lunar concrete, mostly using other materials that can be found on the Moon or produced by astronauts, such as potato starch and water. This design has the possibility to be scaled up, made space-ready, and deployed onto the lunar surface, creating a material that requires less cost and waste than other solutions. This alternative is especially attractive compared to solutions relying heavily on materials produced Earth-side and transported to the lunar surface, reducing both emissions and cost-per-mix. Luna Connect has envisioned and is building a prototype, as well as testing various ingredient ratios to determine the best workability. The team hopes this knowledge will help inform any further iterations and has developed a mission architecture for deployment on the moon.