Magnesium is one of the most pervasive metals in lunar soil, and has many characteristics that make it applicable to in-situ refining and production. This somewhat overlooked alkaline earth metal is easily cast, utilized, and recycled, characteristics that are required in the Moon's harsh environment. Moreover, alloys of this element have several properties fine-tuned for building shelters in a lunar environment, including several advantages over aluminum alloys. Magnesium alloys may prove to be the optimal choices for reinforcing lunar structures or manufacturing components as needed on the Moon. As such, further research on the in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) of magnesium is imperative for the development of a self-sufficient lunar base. This paper brings together key properties of magnesium within the context of it being used as an in-situ resource once the Moon, again, becomes a goal for permanent habitation and we require the ability to live there in perpetuity.
Magnesium As an ISRU-Derived Resource for Lunar Structures
Thirteenth ASCE Aerospace Division Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments, and the 5th NASA/ASCE Workshop On Granular Materials in Space Exploration ; 2012 ; Pasadena, California, United States
Earth and Space 2012 ; 175-182
2012-04-17
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Magnesium as an ISRU-Derived Resource for Lunar Structures
Online Contents | 2013
|Magnesium as an ISRU-Derived Resource for Lunar Structures
Online Contents | 2013
|Magnesium as an ISRU-Derived Resource for Lunar Structures
Online Contents | 2013
|Springer Verlag | 2018
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