Leveraging in situ resources for lunar base construction

Ellery, Alex

doi:10.1139/cjce-2021-0098

Cited by 19 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…The design and architecture of manufacturing factories may be applied to the lunar industrial ecology and these approaches have been reviewed. Although these approaches are appropriate throughout the processing chain from mining to final product, a central facet of any ISRU system will involve exploration of the planetary environment and the acquisition of physical resources [187]. This will require complex strategies involving coordination of multiple roving robots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are There Biomimetic Lessons from Genetic Regulatory Networks for Developing a Lunar Industrial Ecology?

Ellery

2021

Biomimetics

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We examine the prospect for employing a bio-inspired architecture for a lunar industrial ecology based on genetic regulatory networks. The lunar industrial ecology resembles a metabolic system in that it comprises multiple chemical processes interlinked through waste recycling. Initially, we examine lessons from factory organisation which have evolved into a bio-inspired concept, the reconfigurable holonic architecture. We then examine genetic regulatory networks and their application in the biological cell cycle. There are numerous subtleties that would be challenging to implement in a lunar industrial ecology but much of the essence of biological circuitry (as implemented in synthetic biology, for example) is captured by traditional electrical engineering design with emphasis on feedforward and feedback loops to implement robustness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are There Biomimetic Lessons from Genetic Regulatory Networks for Developing a Lunar Industrial Ecology?

Ellery

2021

Biomimetics

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“…An intriguing prospect is that, given advances in 3D printing biological organs (Ellery, 2021 a ), the self-replicating probes could 3D print entire humans at a destination without the necessity for physical transport – the worldship concept may be rendered obsolete. Certainly, planetary habitats (Ellery and Muscatello, 2020; Ellery, 2021 b ) and their life support systems (Ellery, 2021 c ) may be manufactured through local resources and 3D printing technology. A human comprises almost entirely of 11 elements: O -65%, C -18.5%, H -9.5%, N -3.2%, Ca -1.5%, P -1.0%, K -0.4%, S -0.3%, Na -0.2%, Cl -0.2%, Mg -0.2% plus traces of 14 other elements – B, Cr, Co , Cu, F, I, Fe , Mn, Mo, Se , Si , Sn, V and Zn.…”

Section: Self-replicating Probes In Setimentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-replicating probes are imminent – implications for SETI

Ellery

2022

International Journal of Astrobiology

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In the early 1980s, the Sagan-Tipler debate raged regarding the interpretation of the Fermi paradox but no clear winner emerged. Sagan favoured the existence of ETI on the basis of the Copernican principle and Tipler favoured the non-existence of ETI on the basis of the Occam's razor principle. Tipler's stance was an expansion of the similar but earlier Hart declaration. However, crucial to the Tipler argument was the role played by self-replicating interstellar robot probes. Any technologically capable species will develop self-replication technology as the most economical means of exploring space and the Galaxy as a whole with minimal investment. There is no evidence of such probes in our solar system including the asteroid belt, ergo, ETI do not exist. This is a powerful and cogent argument. Counter-arguments have been weak including Sagan's sociological explanations. We present a Copernican argument that ETI do not exist – humans are developing self-replication technology today. We are developing the ability to 3D print entire robotic machines from extraterrestrial resources including electric motors and electronics as part of a general in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) capability. We have 3D-printed electric motors which can be potentially leveraged from extraterrestrial material that should be available in every star system. From a similar range of materials, we have identified a means to 3D print neural network circuitry. From our industrial ecology, self-replicating machines and indeed universal constructors are feasible. We describe in some detail how a self-replicating interstellar spacecraft may be constricted from asteroidal resources. We describe technological signatures of the processing of asteroidal material (which is expected to be common to most star systems), and the excess production of certain types of clay and other detritus materials. Self-replication technology is under development and imminent – if humans are pursuing self-replication technology, then by the Copernican principle, so would any technologically savvy species elsewhere. There is no evidence that they have.

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“…There is, naturally, no effective experience of the relationships between subsystems of lunar habitats; nor is the coordination between architects of various disciplines fully understood due to a lack of systematic, theoretical analysis. The lunar base built with in situ resources includes load-bearing structures, electrical distribution systems, aqueous heating systems, potable water systems, air systems, and orbital transportation systems [10]. NASA has proposed a lunar base construction process and compared it with the terrestrial construction industry, demonstrating the economic necessity of considering the full life cycle in the planning phase [11], but from a more macro perspective and without focusing on the design process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design Structure Matrix Approach Applied to Lunar Habitat Design

2023

Buildings

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Lunar habitat design is a complex endeavor characterized by complicated task-composition, numerous internal iterations, and intense task-coupling. The design process of assembled building in terrestrial construction and the system composition of lunar habitats have been constructed. However, there is insufficient experience to fully understand lunar habitat design missions and likewise there is insufficient coordination between architects and various disciplines. The task flow for sequencing optimization can be determined using a design structure matrix (DSM), which is widely used in engineering. The DSM can reveal necessary interfaces within the lunar habitat system as per relevant interface variables and processes. By decomposing the lunar habitat design process, an initial activity-based DSM is established in the present study. Informational interactions between each design task and its respective intensity are statistically investigated to clarify them across the four dimensions of energy, space, materials, and information. A sequencing algorithm is applied to optimize the design process. Finally, 20 design tasks of lunar habitat design are clarified among four phases: Pre-planning, spatial design, environmental design, and optimization. Related disciplines should coordinate in the design process according to the optimization results, and use the optimized task coupling relationship to build the requirement model and design model in an orderly manner to improve the design efficiency.

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Leveraging in situ resources for lunar base construction

Cited by 19 publications

References 84 publications

Are There Biomimetic Lessons from Genetic Regulatory Networks for Developing a Lunar Industrial Ecology?

Are There Biomimetic Lessons from Genetic Regulatory Networks for Developing a Lunar Industrial Ecology?

Self-replicating probes are imminent – implications for SETI

Design Structure Matrix Approach Applied to Lunar Habitat Design

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