NASA has simply launched a proposal for constructing an oxygen pipeline within the Moon’s lunar south pole area for future Artemis astronauts. This oxygen might be used for human habitats, rovers, life help techniques, and an oxidizer for launch autos departing the Moon. These oxygen extraction applied sciences are set to be demonstrated at massive scale on the Moon as early as 2024, whereas supporting Artemis astronauts as early as 2026.
Formally named the Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (L-SPoP), this gaseous oxygen pipeline will begin off as a 5km pipeline to move oxygen gasoline from an oxygen manufacturing supply, for instance NASA’s molten regolith electrolysis (MRE) extraction web site or every other supply, to an oxygen storage / liquification plant close to a lunar base. L-SPoP would include in-situ manufactured pipe segments which might be coated and welded or fitted collectively to span all the distance.
The pipeline might be designed to: 1) be constructed robotically from regolith-derived metals with minimal materials transferred from Earth, 2) be repairable robotically, 3) have an oxygen movement charge of ~2 kg/hour which is commensurate with the NASA preliminary projected want of 10,000 kg/12 months, 4) function with minimal energy over the lifetime of the pipeline, and 5) have a excessive operational reliability and be capable to survive within the lunar setting for > 10 years,” stated NASA.
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