Design issues and challenges in lunar/Martian mining applications

Abstract As humanity prepares to migrate to the frontiers of the Moon and other planets, the area of mining in space must go along for the purpose of exploration and in situ resource utilisation. In the different stages of mine operations there are some common mine unit operations such as drilling, blasting, excavation, loading, haulage, comminution and separation. In this paper, we review the literature in these areas as applicable to lunar and Martian environments and thereby identify the key technologies and issues as applicable to Moon/Mars.

[1]  Howard L. Hartman,et al.  Introductory Mining Engineering , 1987 .

[2]  Stein Sture,et al.  Helical Anchors for Combined Anchoring and Soil Testing in Lunar Operations , 1998 .

[3]  K. Barron,et al.  The post-failure characteristics of rock , 2003 .

[4]  Stein Sture,et al.  Vibratory Excavation and Anchoring Tools for the Lunar Surface , 1996 .

[5]  Richard E. Gertsch,et al.  Lunar Surface Mines and Mining Machinery: Design Criteria , 1990 .

[6]  Patricia Mendoza Watson.  Explosives Research for Lunar Applications: A Review , 1988 .

[7]  Michèle Lavagna,et al.  A drill-soil system modelization for future Mars exploration , 2004 .

[8]  Leonhard E. Bernold,et al.  Experimental Studies on Mechanics of Lunar Excavation , 1991 .

[9]  James D. Blacic,et al.  Report on Conceptual Systems Analysis of Drilling Systems for 200-m-Depth Penetration and Sampling of the Martian Subsurface , 2000 .

[10]  R. Mancinelli.  Accessing the Martian deep subsurface to search for life , 2000 .

[11]  Jamal Rostami,et al.  Review of the Issues Related to Extraterrestrial Drilling , 1998 .

[12]  Wesley D. Scott,et al.  EXCAVATION FORCES IN REDUCED GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT , 1997 .

[13]  Geoffrey A. Briggs,et al.  Technical Challenges of Drilling on Mars , 2002 .

[14]  R Gerzer,et al.  Critical issues in connection with human planetary missions: protection of and from the environment. , 2001, Acta astronautica.

[15]  Geoffrey A. Briggs,et al.  An Automated, Low Mass, Low Power Drill for Acquiring Subsurface Samples of Ground Ice for Astrobiology Studies on Earth and on Mars , 2003 .

[16]  Leonhard E. Bernold,et al.  Engineering, design and construction of lunar bases , 2002 .

[17]  Leonhard E. Bernold,et al.  Modeling Effects of Chemical Explosives for Excavation on Moon , 1992 .

[18]  Wendell Mendell,et al.  The Moon: Resources, Future Development, and Colonization , 2000 .

[19]  Charles E. Joachim.  Extraterrestrials Excavation and Mining with Explosives , 1988 .

[20]  Stein Sture,et al.  Mass and Energy Tradeoffs of Axial Penetration Devices on Lunar Soil Simulant , 1992 .

[21]  Xiaoqi Bao,et al.  Ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer (USDC) as a sampler for planetary exploration , 2001, 2001 IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.01TH8542).

[22]  E. Re,et al.  Deep drill (DeeDri) for Mars application , 2004 .

[23]  Brad Blair.  Use of Space Resources: Literature Survey , 1998 .

[24]  Leonhard E. Bernold,et al.  Use of Explosives on The Moon , 1992 .

[25]  Jacques Nantel.  Improvements in Mining Technology , 1996 .

[26]  Robert A. Hall,et al.  Transfer of Terrestrial Technology for Lunar Mining , 1992 .

[27]  Joram Shenhar,et al.  Tethered, Down-Hole-Motor Drilling system — A benefit to Mars exploration , 2003 .

[28]  Sandor L. Lehoczky,et al.  High Performance Materials Applications to Moon/Mars Missions and Bases , 1998 .

[29]  Larry W. Mason.  Beneficiation and Comminution Circuit for the Production of Lunar Liquid Oxygen (LLOX) , 1992 .

[30]  W. Maurer.  Novel Drilling Techniques , 1968 .

[31]  John A. Siekmeier,et al.  Lunar Surface Mining Equipment Study , 1992 .

[32]  R. E. Gertsch.  A method for mining lunar soil , 1983 .

[33]  Brad Blair,et al.  Drilling and Logging in Space: An Oil-Well Perspective , 2000 .