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NASA

A Brief Review of Lunar and Asteroid Resources. Uses of space resources: Use to facilitate the in situ exploration of planetary bodies (ISRU) Use to develop a space-based economy (e.g. communications and energy infrastructures/space science/tourism)

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NASA

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  1. A Brief Review of Lunar and Asteroid Resources Uses of space resources: • Use to facilitate the in situ exploration of planetary bodies (ISRU) • Use to develop a space-based economy (e.g. communications and energy infrastructures/space science/tourism) • Direct importation to Earth to benefit the World economy directly Ian Crawford NASA

  2. “Space exploration and development should be done in such a way so as to reduce, not aggravate, tensions on Earth” William Hartmann (1985)

  3. Economic case for using space resources in space

  4. Lunar Resources* Red: High-Ti lavas (Fe, Mg, Ti, Si, O) Yellow: Low-Ti lavas (Fe, Mg, Si, O) Blue: Anorthositic highlands (Ca, Al, Si, O) Credit: P.D. Spudis *I. A. Crawford, Progress in Physical Geography 39, 137-167 (2015).

  5. Polar ices as a source of water (and H and O) for possible operations on the Moon and in cis-lunar space….

  6. Solar wind implanted volatiles NASA

  7. Is there anything worth importing to Earth? REE (+U, Th) Magnetic anomalies: Fe (+ Ni, PGMs)

  8. Lunar vs Asteroidal Resources • Small, negligible gravities, some NEAs easier to reach than the lunar surface. But, distances vary greatly for a given asteroid, long synodic periods • Metallic NEAs rich in Fe, Ni, PGMs; carbonaceous NEAs rich in volatiles • Generally NEAs not rich in other elements (e.g. lithophile elements like Al and Ti) • Uniformly close • Geological processes have enhanced concentrations of many useful materials (polar volatiles, Al, Ti, REE, U) • Crashed asteroids may be source of Fe and PGMs • Lends itself to the gradual development (‘boot-strapping’) of a surface infrastructure

  9. A scientific lunar outpost (aka a ‘Moon Village’) would provide an initial market for lunar resources and supporting infrastructure for additional prospecting ….

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