1. In Situ Resource Utilization
2008 Field Campaign

2. What is Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)?
ISRU involves any hardware or operation that harnesses and utilizes ‘in-situ’ resources to create products and services for robotic and human exploration
In-Situ Lunar Resources
‘Natural’ Lunar Resources
Discarded Materials
Lunar ISRU Products and Services
Excavation, Site Preparation, and Outpost Deployment/Emplacement
Mission Consumable Production
Outpost Growth and Self-Sufficiency
Benefits of ISRU
Increased science and exploration hardware (instead of consumables)
Increased safety, crew exploration time, and self-sufficiency
Technology spin-in/spin-offs help recycling on Earth & space economy

3. Lunar Surface Systems Element Connectivity with ISRU
CFM technology common with ISRU
Construction & Manufacturing
Altair Propulsion
Defines propellant options & propulsion capabilities
Surface Mobility
Propellant (O2 or O2/fuel)
Purge gas/tank pressurant
Hydrocarbons for plastics
Thermal Energy
Materials for concrete & metal structures
Defines resource excavation & transportation capabilities
Gas for pneumatic systems
In-Situ
Resource
Utilization
(ISRU)
Explosives
O2 for Habitat & EVA
Fuel cell, Water processing, & CFM technology common with ISRU
ECLSS technology
common with ISRU
Thermal Energy
Fuel cell reagents (O2 and fuel)
Backup water
O2, H2O and N2/Ar for Habitat & EVA suits
N2 and/or Ar for science instruments
Water from fuel cell
Water and carbon waste from ECLSS
Gas for drills & hardware
Surface & Fuel Cell Power Generation
Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS)
Explosives
Science Activities
Defines surface power needs and fuel cell reagents
Defines level of closed-loop ECLSS required

4. ISRU Development Strategy
Develop ISRU Technology and Systems in 4 Phases (2-4 years each phase)
Phase I: Demonstrate Feasibility
Phase II: Technology and systems evolution optimized vs key performance parameters
Phase III: Modify and test for lunar environment applicability
Reach TRL 6 by Lunar Surface System (LSS) PDR (2014)
Coordinate development of ISRU Technologies & Systems with Other LSS Elements
Identify common requirements, processes, hardware, and operations
Coordinate development of hardware to align project schedule
Utilize Laboratory and Analog Site Demonstrations to:
Demonstrate capabilities and operations
Demonstrate evolution and incremental growth in technologies and systems
Perform joint hardware and operation tests with other Surface Element Projects
Develop partnerships and relationships across NASA and other US government agencies, and with International Partners, Industry, and Academia
Be Prepared to Participate in Robotic Precursor Missions
Site characterization and resource mapping
Subscale ISRU demonstrations for subsequent mission risk reduction
Outpost ‘dress rehearsal’ mission including other LSS elements

5. 2008 Field Test Background
Hardware developed by the ISRU project needed to move from the laboratory to more challenging conditions
Tests in a lunar analog were desired
Partnered with PISCES via a NASA Innovative Partnerships Proposal to develop a test site to meet our needs
Appropriate soil, limited vegetation, site accessibility, infrastructure to support the test team

6. ISRU Analog and Field Test Site Requirements
Minimum vegetation (including ability to remove vegetation)
‘Good’ Weather
Minimum rain and wind
Lots of sunlight
Reasonable temperatures (unless specifically needed for test objectives)
Open and relatively flat areas for ‘Outpost-like’ operations
Varied terrain and rock features for resource prospecting and science operations
Local material with similar physical characteristics to the Moon for excavation and site preparation
Local material with similar mineral characteristics to the Moon for resource prospecting, oxygen extraction, and processing
Local material that can be modified, processed, and permanently altered for site preparation and construction

7. Analog and Field Test Site Infrastructure Needs
Access
Easy access by all participants and hardware by government, industry, academia, and international space agencies
Access and operations day and night if required
Access to site for ~14 days per test program
Security to control access of non-participants and secure hardware
Personnel Support
Lodging and food near test site for test personnel to minimize travel time and logistics to/from test site
Personal hygiene facilities and refreshment/food capability at test sites or within reasonable distance so testing is not impacted
On-site medical support for first aid & emergencies with rapid access to near-by hospital if required (< 1 hour)
Meeting areas for planning and post-test debrief
Parking
Test Operation Support
Shelters & tents for personnel, in-site assembly/maintenance, and weather protection
On-site power (10’s of KW) and battery recharging capability
Gases and cryogenic fluids for test activities (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, methane, etc.)

8. Analog and Field Test Site Infrastructure Needs
Test Setup Support
Reasonably close to airport for shipment of hardware
Ability to ship and store hardware to site before personnel travel to analog site
Access to workshop for test article storage, assembly, and maintenance (tools and floor space)
Support equipment to move test hardware from assembly area to test site and back; possibly on daily basis if hardware can not be left out overnight or fails to operate properly.
Wireless communication capability and satellite communication capability to run hardware remotely, interact with remote operation centers, and daily communication
Environmental and cultural compliance and approval

9. PISCES Field Test Preparations
Worked With NASA Perform Site Selection
Process Completed in Jan/Feb
NASA worked iteratively with PISCES to develop a Site Requirements Document
Finalized in July
Site Layout Visit and Logistics Inspection Conducted in August
Weekly Telecons Held To Work Out Details
Equipment Transportation, Consumables, Emergency Medical Plan, Accommodations, Communications, Food, Water, Shelter….
Last Telecon held one week before execution

10. Nov. ISRU Field Test Infrastructure and Test Layout
Varied Terrain, Slopes, & Rock Distribution for Resource Prospecting/Mobility Demo
RESOLVE/Scarab Field Test Location
Lodging Infrastructure
Outpost Oxygen Production Field Test Location
Flat, Open Area for Oxygen Extraction Demo

13. Why Perform Analog Field Tests?
Concrete Benefits of Field/Analog Testing
Mature Technology
Forces design decisions to be made and gets hardware out of the laboratory
Develops technologies and systems at relevant scale and initiates the systems engineering & integration of multiple elements
Evaluate Lunar Architecture Concepts Under Applicable Conditions
Demonstrate feasibility for ISRU to provide Outpost with oxygen at relevant processing rates/scales
Demonstrates use of modular units for interconnection and growth
Demonstrates feasibility of multiple science instruments on mobile platform for RLEP2-type mission
Evaluate Operations & Procedures
Evaluate operations, controls, and interactions required for end-to-end oxygen extraction
Evaluate operations, controls, and interactions required for mobile science and ISRU precursor
Evaluate remote operations and communications impacts on hardware and performance
Evaluate science vs. engineering aspect to instrument data and operations
Integrate and Test Hardware from Multiple Organizations

14. Why Perform Analog Field Tests?
Indirect Benefits of Field/Analog Testing
Develop Teamwork and Trust Early
Multiple Centers and Organizations Learn To Work Together
Develop New Partnerships
Informal discussions of each other’s work leads to ideas for future partnerships
Develop Data Exchange & Interactions with International Partners (ITAR)
An important barrier that is frequently ignored until field tests force the issue
Outreach and Public Education
Inspiring the next generation
Building ground roots support with the public

15. Outreach Activities
Visited local schools to talk about exploration, over 700 children attended
Planning a demonstration day at the Imiloa Center in Hilo on Saturday, 11/15

16. Participants

17. Hardware Demonstration &Team List
Oxygen Extraction from Regolith
Excavation:
Cratos rover (NASA ISRU)
Bucketwheel (LMA-IR&D)
ROxygen fluidized/auger hydrogen reduction reactor (NASA ISRU)
PILOT rotating hydrogen reduction reactor (LMA-contracted)
Water Electrolysis/processing
Anode-feed electrolyzer with -40C water separation freezer (NASA ISRU)
Cathode-feed electrolyzer with 5 C water separation condensor (LMA – ISRU contract)
Oxygen storage
Gaseous storage (NASA ISRU)
Liquefaction and cryogenic storage (LMA-IR&D)
Liquefaction, cryogenic storage, and thruster firing (NASA-IR&D)
Ground support equipment (NASA ISRU)

18. Hardware Demonstration &Team List
Resource Prospecting and Subscale Oxygen Extraction Demonstration
Scarab rover (Carnegie Mellon Univ. – NASA HRS grant)
TriDAR navigation sensor (Neptec – CSA contract)
Drill, Sample Transfer, and Crusher (NORCAT – NASA ISRU contract and CSA contract)
RESOLVE reactor, gas characterization and collection, and subscale O2 extraction demo (NASA ISRU)
Sample metering device with windows and electrostatic dust removal INASA ISRU)
Ground support equipment (NASA ISRU)
Tractor and cart for GSE (NORCAT – CSA funding)
Local and satellite communication and remote operation of drill (NORCAT – CSA funding)
Mossbauer spectrometer on Scarab (JSC/Germany – NASA ISRU funding)
CHEMIN (ARC – NASA ISRU funding)
Hand-held Raman spectrometer (CSA funding)

19. International And University Participation
Canadian Space Agency
NORCAT, Xiphos, Argo, Virgin Technologies, EVC, University of Toronto
NORCAT deserves a great deal of credit as a catalyst for many of these partnerships
German Space Agency (DLR)
Instrumented “Mole” & Sample Capture Mole
Carnegie Mellon University
SCARAB Rover

20. Field Demonstration Goals

21. Mobile Resource Characterization & Oxygen Demonstration Hardware
TriDAR Navigation & Drill Site Selection Sensor (Neptec)
RESOLVE Processing Module
Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator Simulator (GRC)
Hydrogen Capture Bed
Gas Chromatograph
Reactor & Valving
Scarab Rover (CMU – HRS)
RESOLVE Drill & Sample Transfer (NORCAT)
Neon Tank
Hydrogen Tank
Water Capacitance Beds
Interface panel with Ground Support Equipment

22. Mobile Resource Prospecting & Oxygen Production (RESOLVE/Scarab) Tasks
Demonstrate roving over multiple terrain features with complete RESOLVE-science payload
Demonstrate dark navigation of Scarab over varied terrain and rock distribution
Demonstrate drill site selection using TriDAR and Raman spectrometer via remote analysis at CSA PTOC
Demonstrate remote operation of drill and sample transfer operations at CSA PTOC
Demonstrate end-to-end operation of RESOLVE package
Min. of two times for resource prospecting: drilling, sample transfer, crushing, heating, volatile characterization; Max. 5 times
Min. of one time for oxygen extraction from regolith; Max. 3 times

23. PILOT Field Test Hardware
Rotating H2 Reduction Reactor - 17 kg/batch
Hydrogen Storage
Lift System and Auger Loading
Product Processor
Oxygen Liquefier/ Storage (IR&D)
Dump Chute
Salt Extraction Collector and Second Stage Filter
Water Condenser
Bucket Drum Excavator (IR&D)
Lander Simulator (IR&D)
PILOT – Precursor ISRU Lunar Oxygen Testbed

24. ROxygen Field Test Hardware
Two Fluidized H2 Reduction Reactors - 10 kg/batch each
Regolith hopper/auger lift system (2)
Water Freezer
Hydrogen Tank/Separator
Water Tanks (2)
Cratos Excavator
Gaseous O2 Storage
Regolith reactor exhaust
Ramp to allow Cratos operations (or other small vehicle)
Water Electrolysis Units (2)
NASA ROxygen H2 Reduction System

25. OPTIMA ROxygen & PILOT Tasks
Demonstrate excavation and material delivery to plant and removal of spent regolith;
Increase distance and terrain complexity between plant and excavation site each day
Demonstrate regolith processing to extract oxygen
Min. of 4 hrs on one day; nominal 8 hrs per day
Max. of 8 hrs/day for 5 days
Demonstrate oxygen separation and storage
Liquefaction and cryogenic storage
Moderate pressure gaseous oxygen
Opportunistic Demos
Demonstrate alternative oxygen liquefaction and storage
Hot fire a LO2/LCH4 RCS 25 lbf thruster igniter
Mossbauer spectrometer on Cratos to measure iron before and after processing

26. Field Test Pictures and Movies

27. Getting Here

29. PILOT Setup

31. RESOLVE Setup

33. Management Hard At Work
Packing up for the move
Drill Arrives

35. ROxygen Setup

36. Test Results (more to come)
PILOT
Significant water generated from regolith on every process run
First two runs conducted without water clean up, so a significantly acidic water was generated
Run three used water vapor scrubber and water was visibly cleaner
If analysis proves that water scrubber is working, water electrolysis operations will begin Tuesday. THAT MEANS OXYGEN WILL HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FROM HAWAII VOLCANIC SOIL WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE MOON!!!
RESOLVE has Drilled 4 core samples
Regolith Volatiles Characterization experiment noted CO2, H2, O2 and water during heating
Regolith Oxygen Extraction generated water, as expected, during one hour reduction process
ROxygen Operations begin today (Hurricane Delays)

37. Water From Rocks!
Purity Goal…

38. Autonomous Navigation

39. Difficulties
Wind & Dust!!!!!

40. Difficulties
Dust!!!!!
Transportation Logistics
Sharing…
Time Pressure

41. PISCES Performance
Handled all permitting and coordination with local organizations
Supplied or Coordinated All Base Camp Facilities
Tents, power cords, rope, tarps, tie wraps, fuel, food, water, portable toilets, lights, etc
Field Operations Personnel Outstanding
John Hamilton and Christian Andersen

42. Oxygen On The Moon