Latest news with #GameChangingDevelopment
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Lunar Resources and NASA Achieve Historic Breakthrough in Lunar Oxygen and Metal Extraction from Regolith Simulant
Houston company and NASA demonstrate full scale extraction of resources from simulated lunar soil 'This monumental achievement, 20 years in the making, is a major leap forward for the lunar community.'— Dr. Alex Ignatiev, CTO of LUNAR HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES, April 29, 2025 / / -- Lunar Resources (LUNAR), a Houston-based space industrial company pioneering lunar resource extraction technologies, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in collaboration with NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC). In December, LUNAR and NASA successfully demonstrated the extraction of oxygen at a commercial scale from simulated lunar soil (regolith) at KSC's Swamp Works. The demonstration showcased LUNAR's LR-1 resource extraction reactor, an advanced system engineered to electrolytically extract oxygen and metals from lunar soil. Conducted in a simulated lunar vacuum environment within KSC's vacuum chamber, the test lasted over 36 hours, processing 25 kilograms (55 lbs) of simulated lunar soil while producing oxygen. 'This marks the first-ever production of oxygen at full scale from lunar soil simulant in a vacuum environment,' said Dr. Alex Ignatiev, LUNAR's Chief Technology Officer. 'This monumental achievement, 20 years in the making, is a major leap forward for the lunar community.' The LR-1 system employs molten regolith electrolysis (MRE), a high-temperature electrolytic process that uses only electric current to separate oxygen and metals from lunar soil. Alongside oxygen extraction, the demonstration produced valuable metals such as iron and silicon, further expanding the potential for lunar resource utilization. The project was jointly funded by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Game Changing Development (GCD) program and LUNAR's internal research and development initiatives. Resource extraction from lunar soil is a critical component for achieving lunar sustainability under NASA's Artemis Program. The LR-1 demonstration is the first instance of full-scale extraction of both oxygen and metals from simulated lunar soil, paving the way for a dependable and cost-effective supply of raw materials on the Moon's surface. About Lunar Resources Based in Houston, Texas, Lunar Resources, Inc. is space industrial company developing off-earth industrial technologies that advance the utilization of the resources of space for commercial, scientific, and strategic applications. For more information, please contact [email protected] or visit Elliot Carol Lunar Resources, Inc. [email protected] Visit us on social media: X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA will test cell phone service on the moon in latest mission
The Brief NASA and Intuitive Machines are launching a mission Wednesday evening to test a moon-based cellular network developed by Nokia Bell Labs, aiming to enable future astronaut communications. The network will be deployed on a lander functioning as a cell tower, alongside other payloads searching for resources like water and testing a hopping robot for lunar exploration. This marks Intuitive Machines' second moon mission for NASA, with a one-week journey planned to safely land all payloads at the lunar south pole. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Cell service could be coming to the moon. New technology to test the possibility is on deck for liftoff this week at Kennedy Space Center. What we know NASA and Intuitive Machines are gearing up for a Wednesday evening liftoff, and one of the payloads will test a moon-based cell network. Researchers with Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research developed the network and say it's the same tool that we use here on Earth when we pick up our phones and make a call. But they had to make a cell tower much smaller so it could fit in a rocket and land on the moon. That payload is on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A, and it's one of many experiments ready for liftoff. One day in the not-so-distant future, researchers want astronauts to use cell phones on the moon, and the day to test it is finally here. What they're saying "We can take those same technologies, and we can adapt them for space missions," said Thierry Klein, who's the president of Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research. "We can take those same technologies, and we can adapt them for space missions." Thierry Klein, President of Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research When the lander reaches the moon, the network they created will activate. "We miniaturize it into a single network in a box so all the functions are in an absolutely compact optimized network," said the president. Since this isn't a manned mission, robot landers will do the work. "The lander functions like a tower. We put the antenna on the top of the lander," said Klein. Other payloads on board will look for valuable resources on the moon's surface. "We're looking for things like water or other volatiles that we might use for future missions," said Michael Johansen, who's the flight demonstrations lead with NASA's Game Changing Development. What's next Engineers are also testing a new method of movement with one of the robots. Instead of the robots roving across the moon, a payload will hop from location to location. This way, it can avoid craters and rocks as it moves. This is Intuitive Machines' second moon mission for NASA. It should take the Texas-based space company one week after liftoff to guide their lander through orbit and land all the payloads safely on the South Pole of the moon. Timeline This launch is set for Wednesday evening at 7:17 p.m. If teams cannot launch then, there are backups for the next three days at KSC. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source The information in this article comes from NASA and reporting done by FOX 35's Esther Bower.
