1. Tennessee Space Grant Consortium
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
RETURN TO THE MOON: THIS TIME TO STAY
Tennessee
Space Grant
Consortium
Larry Taylor
Dawn Taylor
Planetary Geosciences Institute
Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
University of Tennessee

2. July 20, 1969 Dec. 12, 1972 Last Man First Man
It is the Heritage of Mankind that We are Explorers,
to Go Where No Person has Gone Before.
In January, 2004, President Bush
established a national program of
returning humans to space, first to
the Moon, then Mars, and beyond.

3. With Exploration and Settling of the Moon,
We must Learn to “Live Off the Land”, in much
the same way Our Ancestors Settled America.
South Pole / Amundsen Site
Water-Ice ??
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,

4. Living Conditions on the Moon
No Atmosphere - Deep Vacuum : to atm
Temperatures: Equator:
Day = C; Night = C
Avg. = -20 ±120 0C
Poles: Dark = C
Lighted = -50 ±20 0C
Micrometeorite Impact : Velocities to >>105 km/hr
Radiation: Galactic / Cosmic / Solar-ray Particles

5. Radiation Solar Wind Weathering
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
Our Unhappy Moon
Radiation
Solar Wind
Weathering
,000 MPH

6. Zap Pits Micrometeorite Impacts on a Lunar Glass Bead Impact Craters
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
Micrometeorite Impacts on a Lunar Glass Bead
Projectile Φ
Crater Φ = 1 10
0.5 m
5 m
5 mm
Projectile
= 1/100th the diameter
of a hair on your head
Impact Craters
Zap Pits
Courtesy
Dave McKay

7. Lunar Soil Formation Comminution, Agglutination, & Vapor Deposition
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
Lunar Soil Formation
Comminution, Agglutination, & Vapor Deposition
The major Weathering and Erosional agent on the Moon is
Meteorite / Micrometeorite Impacts.

8. University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
100 mm
Courtesy – Dave McKay
Agglutinates
50 mm
Polished section as viewed in Reflected Light
Agglutinitic Glass
Gas
Vesicule
Ilmenite
Rocklet
Volcanic Glass Bead
SEM
Pieces of minerals, rocks, and glass welded together by shock-melt glass

9. Lunar Soil = 40-80% Impact Glass
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
SEM - BSE
Milky Way of nanophase Feo
all white beads = Metallic Iron (Fe0)
1 mm
Fe0
Lunar Soil =
40-80% Impact Glass
All Impact Glass has Metallic Fe

10. MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF LUNAR SOILS
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF LUNAR SOILS
Abundance of Nano phase Fe0 in
Lunar Soil Increases as Grain Size of the Particles Decreases;
Magnetic Susceptability of Soil Particles Increases as Grain Size Decreases;
All <50 m Particles (~50 wt%) of Lunar Soil are Easily
Attracted by a simple Hand-held Magnet. (Taylor et al., 2005)

11. All Activities on the Moon Generate Dust
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
Apollo 17 Astronaut
Harrison H. (Jack) Schmitt
All Activities on the
Moon Generate Dust
Dusty Lunatic

12. SOLUTION: Magnetic brushes ??
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
Lunar Dust Effects: Must be Addressed before any Commercial Presence on the Moon can be Fully Evaluated.
Potential for settling on all thermal and optical surfaces, such as Solar cells and mirrors; and
Coatings, on seals, gaskets, optical lens, windows, electrical components, astronaut suits, etc.; and
Abrasiveness, with regards to friction-bearing surfaces;
Physiological effects on humans, especially with respect to the lungs, the lymph system, and potentially the cardiovascular system, in the case of extremely fine particles.
“Lunar Dust Hay Fever”, Jack Schmitt
SOLUTION: Magnetic brushes ??

13. ANOTHER WHITE HOUSE LEAK!!

14. MICROWAVE RADIATION for DUST MITIGATION
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
MICROWAVE RADIATION for DUST MITIGATION
There is an entire subculture of people who derive pleasure from putting strange things in microwave ovens
Things that microwave oven manufacturers would strenuously suggest should not be put there.
In the hands of these people :
Table grapes produce glowing plasmas;
Soap bars mutate into abominable soap monsters;
Compact discs incandesce;
Even ‘Wet Poodles’ have been known to “explode.”

15. Microwave Heating of Lunar Soil
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
Microwave Heating of Lunar Soil
NanoPhase Fe0 in Silicate Glass
so small as to be below the effective “skin depth” of microwave penetration; makes for
GREAT MICROWAVE COUPLING!
Lunar soil in your kitchen microwave oven
will melt [~1200 0C],
BEFORE your tea-water boils [100 0C]!!
Taylor & Meek (2005)

16. Where It All Started !! Initial Experiments
Performed in the Hot-node of a Multimode Oven
Initial Experiments

17. LUNAR SOIL PROCESSING & PRODUCTS
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
LUNAR SOIL PROCESSING & PRODUCTS
SINTERING and MELTING
Creating Smooth-Sintered to Glassy Surfaces on the Moon
Microwave Source
Parabolic Metal Reflector
Primary Cone
of Microwaves

18. SUGGESTIONS ?? LUNAR SOIL PROCESSING & PRODUCTS SINTERING and MELTING
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
LUNAR SOIL PROCESSING & PRODUCTS
SINTERING and MELTING
Roads
Buildings
Landing Pads
Recovery of Volatiles
Glass Fiber Production
Oxygen Production
Antenna Dishes
SUGGESTIONS ??

19. 2.45 GHz Full Wave-Guide Microwave Unit
Dual Power Monitor
Flexible Waveguide
3-Port Circulator
3-Stub Tuner
Precision Sliding
Short Circuit
Short Dummy Load
Applicator Chamber
Prof. Taylor Vodka
From Russian colleagues
A Single Magnetron
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,

20. RUN-AWAY MICROWAVE HEATING - >1000 0C/10 seconds
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,
50 Watts
1 gm Pellet,
1750 0C
(3182 0C)
10 sec
RUN-AWAY MICROWAVE HEATING - >1000 0C/10 seconds

21. TAYLOR ZAMBONI LUNAR-SURFACE PAVER
University of Tennessee, Planetary Geosciences Institute
Larry Taylor,

22. TIME FOR ANOTHER WALK ON THE MOON
Coming Along?
Courtesy, Jack Schmitt