Scientists from ETH Zurich and the Center for Space Habitability at the University of Bern have investigated the feasibility of building lunar infrastructure using in-situ satellite rocks and an autonomous robotic excavator. The study focuses on the construction of “blast shields”, essential to protect future lunar bases. lunar bases from debris raised by spacecraft launches.
The study explains that during the Apollo missions the risk that lunar dust poses to structures was identified and with NASA’s Artemis mission on the horizon, this problem has become more relevant. This is one of the reasons why they are analyzing the feasibility of building “blast shields” in two lunar exploration areas: the Aristarchus Plateau and the Shackleton-Henson Connecting Ridge.
What will the construction of lunar infrastructures be like?
Using advanced path-planning algorithms, robots could collect and stack rocks, minimizing the use of energy and time compared to traditional methods such as using regolith. regolith regolith. Estimates suggest that the construction of these walls could be completed in approximately 63 Earth days, which equates on average to 1500 hours of operations.
Most notably, this method requires up to 1000 times less energy than other proposed lunar construction techniques. This breakthrough, in addition to being fundamental to lunar lunar explorationexploration, could also be applied in future missions to Marswhere the use of local resources will be crucial.
The scientific paper also highlights the importance of robotic autonomy and energy efficiency. energy efficiency in space construction, marking a significant step towards sustainable space exploration and colonization.
Challenges, such as the possibility of small gaps between rocks, will be overcome by the inclusion of regolith or smaller stones to seal these areas. This proposal is emerging as a comprehensive solution to mitigate the risks associated with exploration and could lay the groundwork for the construction of future lunar colonies.
As humanity prepares to establish a continuous presence on the Moon, technologies such as this will be critical to ensure the safety and success of space missions.
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Source: Frontiers in Space Technologies
Photo: Shutterstock
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