i i NASA Conference Publication 3017 Report of the In Situ Resources Utilization Workshop Edited by Kyle Fairchild and Wendell W. Mendell NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas Proceedings of a workshop cosponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, Large Scale Programs Institute, United Technologies Corporation, Kraft Foods, and Disney Imagineering, and hosted by United Technologies Corporation Lake Buena Vista, Florida January 28-30, 1987 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Division 1988 PREFACE This report contains the results of a workshop that investigated potential joint development of the key technologies and mechanisms required to enable the permanent habitation of space. Fifty representatives from the public and private sectors met at the United Technologies Center, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 28 to 30, 1987, to begin a joint public/private assessment of new technology requirements of future space options, to share knowledge on those required technologies that may exist in the private sector, and to investigate potential joint technology development opportunities. This report also provides input to a NASA technology development plan and docu- ments possibilities for collaborative technology development among the public 9 private, and academic sectors. This workshop represents the first "nucleation" phase of a continuing process. The participant list represents only a small fraction of all organ- izations that will contribute to future development of space technologies and activities. We attempted to assemble a representative cross section of business, academic, and government organizations to investigate the feasi- bility of potential technological collaborations and the organizational structures that would enable most effective collaboration. If it appears that the timing is correct for this sort of activity, we can then consider the "implementation" and "production" phases, where-in the entire national - and perhaps international - corporate, academic, and public communities will have an opportunity to participate. The workshop consisted of a series of plenary meetings to acquaint partici- pants with current space policy issues and the state of long-range planning within NASA. Then, five working groups convened to exchange ideas on ways in which the Nation can realize the potential of space development. This report contains the conclusions of the working groups, as well as preliminary recommendations to be used in near-term development priority decisions. Finally, steps are outlined for potential new activities and relationships among the public, private, and academic sectors. PRECEDING PAGE BLANK NOT FILMED iii l_:..__,_itilil#ttllltli4l i, itU WORKSHOP ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Sponsors NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) NASA Headquarters Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Department of Energy Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Large Scale Programs Institute (LSPI) United Technologies Corporation Disney Imagineering Kraft Foods General Chairman Kyle Fairchild - JSC Advanced Programs Office Technical Chairman Wendell Mendell - JSC Solar System Exploration Division Advisory Committee Barney Roberts - JSC Advanced Programs Office Mike Duke - JSC Solar System Exploration Division Steve Howe - LANL Gail Klein - JPL Working Group Chairman Steve Howe, Andrew Assur - Construction/Assembly_ Automation/Robotics Gall Klein - Prospecting_ Mining_ and Surface Transportation Terry Wallace - Materials Processing George Mignon, Joe Angelo - Life Support and Biosystems Wendell Mendell - Innovative Ventures Logistics and Documentation Stewart Nozette and Lisa Guerra - LSPI Jonathan Post - Computer Futures, Inc. Hank Robitaille - EPCOT Center_ The Land iv REPORT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Section Coordinators Wendell Mendell - Summary Wendell Mende11 - Overview Kyle Fairchild - Working Group Introduction Barney Roberts - Construction/Assembly, Automation/Robotics Kyle Fairchild - Prospecting, Mining_ and Surface Transportation George Mignon and Joe Angelo Life Support and Biosystems Lou Rancitelli and Hy Lyon - Materials Processing Kyle Fairchild - Working Group Technology Reports Wendell Mendell - Innovative Ventures Wendell Mende11 - Conclusions Barney Roberts - Recommendations for Future Activities Kyle Fairchild Appendixes CONTENTS Section Page SUMMARY .............................. I OVERVIEW ............................. 3 INTRODUCTION .......................... 3 WORKSHOPORGANIZATION ...................... 4 RESULTS OF THE WORKSHOP ..................... 5 WORKING GROUP SUMMARY ...................... 5 Working Group I.- Construction_ Assembly_ Automation_ and Robotics ........................ Workinq Group II.- Prospectinq_ Mininq_ and Surface Transportation ....................... 7 Workinq Group III.- Biosystems and Life Support ........ 8 Workinq Group IV.- Materials Processinq ............ 9 Working Group V.- Innovative Venture ............. 10 CONCLUSIONS ......................... I! WORKING GROUP REPORTS ....................... 12 INTRODUCTION .......................... 12 Charqe to the Workinq Groups ................. 12 Questions to be Addressed by all Working Groups ........ 13 WORKING GROUP I.- CONSTRUCTION/ASSEMBLY 9 AUTOMATION/ROBOTICS 15 Introduction ......................... 15 Phased Evolution of a Lunar Base ............... 15 Lunar Base EIements_ Activities_ and New Technoloqies ..... 22 Multipurpose Construction Machinery .............. 23 Buildinq Materials ...................... 23 PRECEDING PAGE BLANK NOT FILMED vii _AI/A_._L____IIIW.IIIII_Iw_ I_N_ Section Page WORKING GROUP II.- PROSPECTING, MINING, AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ........................ 25 Introduction ......................... 25 Automation/Al/Robotics .................... 25 Prospectinq .......................... 26 Materials Availability, Selection_ and Power Requirements 28 Selected Applications - ] He and Concrete ........... 30 e..°otloloot.lo.o°.°o°o.oool 32 Transportation ........................ 33 WORKING GROUP III.- BIOSYSTEMS AND LIFE SUPPORT ......... 36 Introduction ......................... 36 LSS Requirements ....................... 36 LSS Implementation Strateqy .................. 40 LSS Implementation Staqes ................... 41 WORKING GROUP IV.- MATERIALS PROCESSING - A COMMODITIES APPROACH ........................... 43 Introduction ......................... 43 Materials Processinq Aqenda .................. 43 In Situ Material Processinq .................. 43 Commodities Considered .................... 44 Adaptation of Existinq Processes ............... 45 Recommended Process Development Proqram ............ 45 Benefits for NASA ....................... 46 Benefits for Industry ..................... 46 viii Section Page WORKING GROUP V.- INNOVATIVE VENTURES ............ 48 48 Introduction ......................... Barriers to Investment .................... 49 Options for Private Enterprise ................ 49 Approach to Private Initiative ................ 50 Themes ............................ 51 Actions ............................ 51 WORKING GROUP TECHNOLOGY REPORTS ................. 53 SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY RECOMMENDATIONS .............. 53 DISCUSSION ........................... 54 Minimum Cost Space Transportation ............... 54 New Relationships ....................... 54 Evolutionary Development ................... 54 In Situ Resources Utilization ................. 55 Reqenerative LSS's ...................... 55 Systems Autonomy ....................... 55 TECHNOLOGY REPORTS BY WORKING GROUP ............... 55 Construction/AssembIy_ Automation/Robotics .......... 55 Prospectinq_ Mininq, and Surface Transportation ........ 56 Biosystems and Life Support .................. 56 Materials Processinq ..................... 59 Innovative Ventures ...................... 59 CONCLUSIONS ............................ 59 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES ............... 62 ix Section Page APPENDIX A - NASA TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES ............. 63 INTRODUCTION .......................... 63 NASA TECHNOLOGY STATUS ..................... 63 Launch and Fliqht Operations ................. 64 Lunar and Mars Exploration .................. 66 Expanded Solar System Exploration ............... 66 NASA STRATEGIC PLANNING ..................... 67 APPENDIX B - WORKSHOP INFORMATION ................. 7O APPENDIX C - LETTERS ....................... 77 APPENDIX D - ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS .............. 83 FIGURES Page Figure I Nonterrestrial material sources within the 29 solar system ...................... Markets for nonterrestrial resources .......... 29 Lunar development phases vs. capabilities and technology developments ...................... 57 4 Technology plan - prospecting, mining_ and surface transportation ................. 57 Technology plan - lunar base biosystems and life support ......................... 58 NASA's proposed technology initiatives ......... 65 TABLE Table Page I CURRENT NASA OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES/CAPABILITIES 69 xi SUMMARY The In Situ Resources Utilization Workshop was held at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, from January 28 to 30, 1987. Sponsoring organizations included the NASA Lyndon B.Johnson Space Center (JSC), the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Large Scale Programs Insti- tute, United Technologies Corporation, Kraft Foods, and Disney Imagineering. Attendance was by invitation only and was held to about 50. The NASA