Remarks on ISRU and ISFR Technologies for Manned Missions on Moon and Mars

Abstract

Space colonization and exploitation of extra-terrestrial natural resources could help humanity in facing various Earth problems. In this regard, production of energy and materials starting from Moon and Mars natural resources as well as the transportation of humans in space could be considered the long term remedy to issues such as overpopulation, depletion of fossil fuels, climate change as well as reduction of available natural resources. Along theses lines, two recently filed patents related to use of novel technologies for the in situ exploitation of natural resources available on Moon and Mars have been developed.

Recent advances on ISRU technologies and study of microgravity impact on blood cells for deep space exploration

“…The other developed processes were based on combustion synthesis-type reactions for the obtainment of ceramic composites using Lunar regolith simulants in the starting mixture (Martirosyan and Luss, 2006;Faierson et al, 2010). Along these lines, Cao et al (Cao et al, 2011) developed an ISFR process for manufacturing physical assets necessary for industrial and/or civil facilities on Mars, the Moon, and/or asteroid, in addition to the kit of equipment and materials required to achieve this goal. The resulting ISFR process includes the operating stages shown schematically in Figure 1.…”

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

“…The accomplishment of this goal necessitates the identification of new technologies for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) [ 142 ]. So far, several studies have been devoted to developing Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSSs), typically involving microalgae and cyanobacteria, which permit the production of water, oxygen, and food by totally recycling crew metabolic wastes, including exhausted cabin air [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 143 ]. In this regard, Spirulina is recognized as a crucial constituent of the MELiSSA project due to its high photosynthetic efficiency, reaching values close to 6% and protein content of 60–70% wt [ 142 ].…”

“…In fact, since interplanetary trips are quite expensive [ 60 ], the integrative amounts of consumables cannot be continuously replenished from Earth but must be produced directly on Mars by exploiting the approach represented by the acronym ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization). Therefore, the ideal strategy for sustaining long-duration manned missions beyond LEO involves the synergistic coupling of ECLSSs and ISRU technologies [ 56 ].…”

“…While the use of bio-engineering techniques involving cyanobacteria, microalgae, macroalgae, bacteria, and fungi is currently well established in the realization of bioregenerative ECLSS [ 56 , 60 , 142 , 143 ], very few works exist in the literature dealing with the possibility of using it to transform available in-situ resources such as regolith and atmospheric CO 2 into useful supplies on Mars. In fact, most ISRU technologies so far proposed consist of physic-chemical methods for oxygen and propellants production from Martian regolith and atmosphere but cannot contribute to the production of food [ 146 , 147 ].…”

“…In the same context, Spirulina has been designated to be placed in Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) in the Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative project (MELiSSA), which allows the production of water, oxygen, food, and health supplements by the total recycling of the space station crew’s metabolic waste, including the exhaled CO 2 into the cabin [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ].…”