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Zhong Y, Low J, Zhu Q, Jiang Y, Yu X, Wang X, Zhang F, Shang W, Long R, Yao Y, Yao W, Jiang J, Luo Y, Wang W, Yang J, Zou Z, Xiong Y. In situ resource utilization of lunar soil for highly efficient extraterrestrial fuel and oxygen supply. Natl Sci Rev 2022; 10:nwac200. [PMID: 36817839 PMCID: PMC9935986 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwac200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Building up a lunar settlement is the ultimate aim of lunar exploitation. Yet, limited fuel and oxygen supplies restrict human survival on the Moon. Herein, we demonstrate the in situ resource utilization of lunar soil for extraterrestrial fuel and oxygen production, which may power up our solely natural satellite and supply respiratory gas. Specifically, the lunar soil is loaded with Cu species and employed for electrocatalytic CO2 conversion, demonstrating significant production of methane. In addition, the selected component in lunar soil (i.e. MgSiO3) loaded with Cu can reach a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of 72.05% with a CH4 production rate of 0.8 mL/min at 600 mA/cm2. Simultaneously, an O2 production rate of 2.3 mL/min can be achieved. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our developed process starting from catalyst preparation to electrocatalytic CO2 conversion is so accessible that it can be operated in an unmmaned manner via a robotic system. Such a highly efficient extraterrestrial fuel and oxygen production system is expected to push forward the development of mankind's civilization toward an extraterrestrial settlement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yawen Jiang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xiwen Yu
- Eco-Materials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nano Technology, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Fei Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Weiwei Shang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | | | | | - Wei Yao
- Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, China
| | | | - Yi Luo
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Weihua Wang
- Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Jinlong Yang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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Just GH, Roy MJ, Joy KH, Hutchings GC, Smith KL. Development and test of a Lunar Excavation and Size Separation System (LES
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) for the LUVMI‐X rover platform. J FIELD ROBOT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/rob.22050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gunter H. Just
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Matthew J. Roy
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering University of Manchester Manchester UK
- Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Katherine H. Joy
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Gregory C. Hutchings
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering University of Manchester Manchester UK
| | - Katharine L. Smith
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering University of Manchester Manchester UK
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Schulze-Makuch D, Crawford IA. Was There an Early Habitability Window for Earth's Moon? ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:985-988. [PMID: 30035616 PMCID: PMC6225594 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Ian A. Crawford
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
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Moustafa K. Exploit and ignore the consequences: A mother of planetary issues. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 557-558:912-913. [PMID: 27133936 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Many environmental and planetary issues are due to an exploitation strategy based on exploit, consume and ignore the consequences. As many natural and environmental resources are limited in time and space, such exploitation approach causes important damages on earth, in the sea and maybe soon in the space. To sustain conditions under which humans and other living species can coexist in productive and dynamic harmony with their environments, terrestrial and space exploration programs may need to be based on 'scrutinize the consequences, prepare adequate solutions and then, only then, exploit'. Otherwise, the exploitation of planetary resources may put the environmental stability and sustainability at a higher risk than it is currently predicted.
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Russell SS, Joy KH, Jeffries TE, Consolmagno GJ, Kearsley A. Heterogeneity in lunar anorthosite meteorites: implications for the lunar magma ocean model. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2014; 372:20130241. [PMID: 25114312 PMCID: PMC4128264 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2013.0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The lunar magma ocean model is a well-established theory of the early evolution of the Moon. By this model, the Moon was initially largely molten and the anorthositic crust that now covers much of the lunar surface directly crystallized from this enormous magma source. We are undertaking a study of the geochemical characteristics of anorthosites from lunar meteorites to test this model. Rare earth and other element abundances have been measured in situ in relict anorthosite clasts from two feldspathic lunar meteorites: Dhofar 908 and Dhofar 081. The rare earth elements were present in abundances of approximately 0.1 to approximately 10× chondritic (CI) abundance. Every plagioclase exhibited a positive Eu-anomaly, with Eu abundances of up to approximately 20×CI. Calculations of the melt in equilibrium with anorthite show that it apparently crystallized from a magma that was unfractionated with respect to rare earth elements and ranged in abundance from 8 to 80×CI. Comparisons of our data with other lunar meteorites and Apollo samples suggest that there is notable heterogeneity in the trace element abundances of lunar anorthosites, suggesting these samples did not all crystallize from a common magma source. Compositional and isotopic data from other authors also suggest that lunar anorthosites are chemically heterogeneous and have a wide range of ages. These observations may support other models of crust formation on the Moon or suggest that there are complexities in the lunar magma ocean scenario to allow for multiple generations of anorthosite formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S Russell
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Katherine H Joy
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | | | | | - Anton Kearsley
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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