Proposed Remote-Control, Solar-Powered Concrete Production Experiment on the Moon

Abstract

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been studying (as of 1996) a possibility to return to the Moon in 2001 or 2002. The mission will involve many lunar surface activities and may include a concrete production experiment. This paper presents a conceptual approach utilizing the newly developed dry-mix/steam-injection (DMSI) procedure to make three 50-mm concrete cubes (cement and water from Earth and aggregate from the Moon). Astronauts will deliver the test equipment to the Moon only. The test procedure shall be carried out through a remote-control semiautonomous manipulation system with a human supervisor unit stationed on Earth. A solar thermal concentrator will be manufactured to provide heat to generate steam for the DMSI process. The proposed program shall be carried out collectively by three technical groups and will proceed in three successive phases: I, design/manufacture of a prototype steam generator/chamber system (the first writer's group); II, design/manufacture of robotic system (the second writer's group), solar thermal concentrator system (the third writer's group), and mock-up tests of the complete test system; and III, the full experiment on the Moon. A duration of 3.5 years is anticipated to complete all three phases. At the completion of the lunar experiment, only concrete cubes will be returned to Earth for further tests. The test results should demonstrate the validity of the concept of concrete lunar bases that NASA hopes to pursue in the 21st century.