Just how would we mine on the moon?

Some time ago, I was involved, along with my colleague Colin Farrelly and others, including Apollo 17 Astronaut, Harrison Schmitt, in putting forward some ideas to NASA about how to establish a permanent human presence on the moon.   The ideas here contemplate the challenges of operatiing on the moon, and some of the technologies that need to be developed or adapted to do so.   Because we think that most of the operation's resources need to be locally sourced, there will obviously need to be some 'mining' activity to collect those resources.


What are the Challenges?


For humans to live and work on the moon and further explore the solar system, a sustainable supply of fuel, water, and atmosphere is needed.   The necessary elements (H, O, He, H2O) and other minerals are present in the lunar regolith.  To mine on the moon many new technologies need to be put in place, not least will be the ability to supply fuel and atmosphere components for the operation from lunar materials, and to better understand the near-surface lunar resource potential.


The challenges of mining and processing on the lunar surface are substantial, but many of the enabling technologies are within reach or in use by the international mining industry for terrestrial mining and processing.  Access to lunar resources in vacuum and abrasive dust conditions, with minimal human intervention is possible.  Development or improvement of remote sensing and chemical analysis systems, automation and remote operation of mobile equipment, and self-contained mining units that extract resources in situ will be necessary.


The technology development required encompasses the following.  


The development the required techniques and technologies to map lunar resources in order to plan mining operations.   All component technologies suggested are already in use and include: 


a) mapping and interpretation of the lunar surface using Low Lunar Orbit satellites with passive geo-analytical sensors, 
b) rapid surface evaluation of prospects using automated rovers with active and passive geo-analytical sensors, and 
c) detailed surface evaluation using higher payload rovers to determine mining feasibility.


Development of the required techniques and technologies to exploit and deliver resources.  Although terrestrial analogues exist, considerable technology development is needed to surmount the challenges to reliable operation in lunar conditions including technologies for:


a) in situ mining of the lunar regolith using a self-contained mining unit in lunar conditions with high reliability and minimal human intervention. 
b) extracting regolith volatiles that will require agitation or heating inside the mining unit.  
c) separating the various volatile components from the extracted gas and delivery to depots.


Well understood technologies that will need development or adaptation to the lunar context are:


a) Remote Sensing / Geophysical technologies that are well known by most current mining companies,  
b) Geochemical / Geotechnical Analysis with robotic sampling methods, based on existing systems,
c) Exploration Platforms, both satellite-based and surface roving robots, which are known to NASA programs, and
d) Hardware/Communications Technologies and Advanced Software Systems which are already well developed for unmanned scientific space missions. 


Robotic Mining Equipment is the core of exploiting the resources on the moon.   This is the biggest challenge because of constraints involved with working in vacuum and corrosive dust environments and mechanical and system integration and control.   The University of Wisconsin work on robotic miners can show the way.


The proposed technologies are fundamental to in-situ resource exploitation for lunar fuel and Life Support in support of NASA’s vision of space exploration.  Once implemented, the resources needed for long-term life support on the moon and in space can be achieved. 

The Mark 3 Miner. after Gajda, M E, Kulcinski, G L, Santarius, J F, Sviatoslavsky, G I and Sviatoslavsky, I N, 2006, A lunar miner design: With emphasis on the volatile storage system, in Proceedings Tenth Biennial ASCE Aerospace Division International Conference on Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments: Earth and Space 2006 (American Society of Civil Engineers: League City). 

A further reference to look at is Schmitt, Farrelly and Franklin 2008. Mining and the future of space exploration. First International Future Mining Conference Sydney, NSW, 19 - 21 November 2008 91 

Is Mining about to go Micro - Post 5

What is the advantage

So what is the advantage of this idea? How could a 'many small' system of movers compare to a 'few large' system that currently exists.

Factor	Few/Large	Many/Small
Example	Haul Trucks	Flying microbots
Capital expenditure	$5 million each	Maybe $5.00 each (in the long run) but you'd need a lot of them.
Ongoing Maintenance	Complex, expensive	Disposable individuals but may still be significant.
Operators	Many people needed to support operations of haul trucks - drivers, water carts, graders etc etc.	Very few - supervisors located remotely.
Fuel	Significant cost	Very little - solar powered.
Infrastructure	Roads, ramps etc - significant, in fact determines long term viability of the mine	Little - no roads etc.
It System support	Significant number of systems to help manage all aspects.	Significant (but not so much as current state)

The economic viability of this idea has not yet been modelled, but as with all technologies, the costs reduce over time, and with take-up. A single mine using flying microbots would probably be enough to reach those long run efficiencies in terms of manufacture of the robots, and continuing advances in solar power technology mean that the path to sufficient power resources for this idea is quite predictable.

For me the biggest single effect lies in the ability to change the dynamics of pit morphology. By not having to step the pit back to get to deeper parts of the orebody, the options for continuing mine operations to depth are very different.

Conclusions

There is no doubt that flying dragonfly robots will not replace haul trucks in the next 5 years or maybe ever. Even though most of the technologies are in place, or being researched now, there is still a while before they'll be bought together to this one task. But there is one thing that technology futurists well understand. The pace of technological innovation is relentless, is accelerating, and most people underestimate what can be done, and when.

A solar powered dragonfly  see more here

Mining and the Future of Space Exploration

Harrison Schmitt (Interlune-Intermars Initiative Inc.), Colin Farrelly (CSC), Dennis Franklin (CSC)


ABSTRACT

The future of human exploration in space is intimately bound to the future of mining and energy production on Earth. By 2025, one or more manned bases will probably exist on the Moon, exploring the lunar landscape and geology, and acting as a learning platform, and possibly a resource platform, for expeditions to Mars and beyond. Unless the mining and space industries take an active and co-operative interest in the technologies required to exploit minerals and fuels in and from hostile environments, the necessary advances to support permanent extra-terrestrial exploration will not be ready in time.

With the notable exception of using lunar Helium-3 as a fusion power fuel, no other reason has been identified for the mining industry to take any direct interest in the exploitation of extraterrestrial resources for the benefit of its customers on Earth. Ample reasons exist, however, for the industry to take a direct interest in supporting technological development of the extraterrestrial resources necessary to support the economical exploration of space.

The mining industry has critical experience in the development and application of technologies for the discovery, extraction and processing of natural resources; experience that the space industry will need to create a viable permanent presence in space. The industry also understands the end to end process of resource development and utilization. On the other hand, the space industry can directly benefit the mining sector by helping mature and advance the extractive and processing technologies needed to economically and sustainably develop resources in hostile terrestrial environments, such as those available in low concentrations, at extreme depth and/or inconvenient geographic locations.

We propose that strategic partnerships be created between the mining, space and allied industries, and research organizations. Such partnerships would develop a joint capability for mutual benefit, targeting the most significant advances in the least time. The space industry will learn how to exploit essential resources off-planet, and the mining industry will gain access to technologies to help extend their activities on earth.
More about the Authors http://assets1.csc.com/au/downloads/Mining_the_Future_of_Space_Exploration.pdf
Get the full paper http://www.ausimm.com.au/publications/epublication.aspx?ID=4735