WELCOME to In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

The In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is a core component of the Vision for Space Exploration as implemented by the Science & Mission Systems (S&MS) Office. The ISRU works to establish, evaluate and assess the in situ resources available on the moon and Mars and the technologies needed to utilize and exploit these resources. These research and technology development areas will focus on technologies necessary to extract consumables (O2, H2O, N2, He, etc.) for human life-support system replenishment (ECLSS, EVA, etc.), source materials (feedstock) for In Situ Fabrication and Repair (ISFR) technologies, and source materials (composites, etc.) for radiation shielding and shelters from in situ resources (lunar regolith and Martian regolith & atmosphere). The transformation of in situ space resources into raw materials will be studied through fundamental and applied experimental research, theoretical modeling of processes, and technology development in the areas of extractive and reactive processing, materials purification, material transformation, materials shaping and handling, and characterization of these processes in low-gravity environments. ISFR/ISRU/Dust Project Manager: Carole McLemore (256) 544-2314 Carole.A.McLemore@nasa.gov

ISRU INFO & NEWS

NASA's 2nd Annual Lunabotics Mining Competition for Universities
May 23-28, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Registration Deadline: Feb. 28, 2011
This year it is open to international Universities as well.
Visit: www.nasa.gov/lunabotics for more information and read an article about last year's winner MSU (www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=30934)

3rd AIAA Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference
June 27-30, 2011 in Honolulu
Abstract Deadline: November 17, 2010 and Final Manuscript due June 20, 2011.
Visit: www.aiaa.org/events/hawaii2011 for more information

2010 Workshop for the Lunar Applications of Mining and Mineral Beneficiation
October 5-7, 2010 at Montana Tech in Butte, MT.
Full website and details here: www.mtech.edu/mines/metallurgy/workshop/

Abstracts and Presentation files are available here

Recently Added Documents:

• Figures of Merit Software: Description, User's Guide, Installation Notes, Versions Description, and License Agreement (added 4-11-2011)
• Notes on Lithology, Mineralogy, and Production for Lunar Simulants (added 2-1-2011)
• Simulants Listing (Updated 10-21-10)
  Shows a list of all known simulants from the U.S. as well as many international simulants.
• Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide NASA/TM-2010-216446 (September 2010)
• Generation of Requirements for Simulant Measurements (Update in Sept 2010) - This document provides a formal, logical explanation of the parameters selected for the Figure of Merit algorithm used to evaluate lunar regolith simulant.
• Figure of Merit Characteristics Compared to Engineering Parameters
• BP-1 Simulant Report
  Black Point Basalt (BP-1) Preliminary Geological Findings (Update in Sept 2010)
• Design and Specifications for the Highland Regolith Prototype Simulants NU-LHT-1M and -2M (August 2010) - NASA TM 2010_216438
• Three-Body Abrasion Testing Using Lunar Dust Simulants to Evaluate Surface System Materials (August 2010) - NASA TM 2010-216781
• Thermal Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulants (May 2010) - NASA TM 2010-216348
• Significant Lunar Minerals

Lunar Regolith & Simulant Users' Survey

Working with NASA and need simulant? The survey is currently under revision. Please contact Jennifer Edmunson by email or at 256-544-0721 for further information.

More news found in the News Archive