Searching for potential ice-rich mining sites on the Moon with the Lunar Volatiles Scout. (February 2020)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Searching for potential ice-rich mining sites on the Moon with the Lunar Volatiles Scout. (February 2020)
- Main Title:
- Searching for potential ice-rich mining sites on the Moon with the Lunar Volatiles Scout
- Authors:
- Biswas, J.
Sheridan, S.
Pitcher, C.
Richter, L.
Reganaz, M.
Barber, S.J.
Reiss, P. - Abstract:
- Abstract: Multiple remote observations have indicated the existence of ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) near the lunar poles, nurturing hopes of possible future resource exploitation. However, the interpretation of the orbital data remains ambiguous and ground truth data is necessary for validation. The Lunar Volatiles Scout (LVS) is an integrated instrument for regolith sampling, gas extraction, and analysis that enables mobile prospecting for lunar volatiles, such as loosely adsorbed water and subsurface ice up to a depth of 10 cm. This study presents results of breadboarding activities using an integrated prototype of the LVS instrument to investigate soil insertion and to demonstrate gas extraction and analysis in thermal vacuum. The required vertical force for LVS insertion into dry and ice-bearing regolith was determined to be less than 15 N and sample-to-sample cross-contamination was found to be negligible. Thermal-vacuum test results proved the successful extraction of water from a hydrated lunar regolith simulant and detection of species across a mass to charge ratio m/z range of 15–200. Highlights: Regolith Sampling, Gas Extraction & Analysis Instrument for Volatiles Exploration. Thermal-Vacuum testing of integrated instrument. Drill testing in icy regolith simulants.
- Is Part Of:
- Planetary and space science. Volume 181(2020)
- Journal:
- Planetary and space science
- Issue:
- Volume 181(2020)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 181, Issue 2020 (2020)
- Year:
- 2020
- Volume:
- 181
- Issue:
- 2020
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2020-0181-2020-0000
- Page Start:
- Page End:
- Publication Date:
- 2020-02
- Subjects:
- Space sciences -- Periodicals
Atmosphere, Upper -- Periodicals
Sciences spatiales -- Périodiques
Haute atmosphère -- Périodiques
523 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00320633 ↗
http://www.elsevier.com/journals ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.pss.2019.104826 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0032-0633
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 6508.320000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 12680.xml