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Space Resources > Lecture 1 > Flashcards

Lecture 1 Flashcards

ISRU

1
Q

What is SRU? Give an example

A

Space Resource Utilisation
Capturing an asteroid and bringing it back to Earth for terrestrial utilisation

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2
Q

: What is ISRU?

A

„In-Situ Resource Utilization is the collection, processing, storing and use of materials encountered in the
course of human or robotic space exploration that replace materials that would otherwise be brought from
Earth to accomplish a mission critical need at reduced overall cost and risk.“
“In-Situ Resource Utilization will enable the affordable establishment of extraterrestrial exploration and
operations by minimizing the materials carried from Earth and by developing advanced, autonomous
devices to optimize the benefits of available in-situ resources.”

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3
Q

ISCP

A

In-situ Consumable Production

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4
Q

ISPP

A

In-situ Propellant Production

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5
Q

ISFR

A

In-Situ Fabrication and Repair

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6
Q

Fundamental Questions of ISRU

A

In-situ –>What is locally available?–> Availability
Resource –>What is needed? or Who needs it?–>Demand
Utilisation –>How can it be used?–>Product

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7
Q

Human demands

A
  • Oxygen: max. 3 min without
  • Water: max. 3 days without (in mild climate)
  • Nutrition: max. 3 weeks without (only if water is available)
  • Sunlight: probably a normal lifespan (but not healthy)
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8
Q

Rocket demands

A

Propellant (liquid bi-propellant most relevant for ISRU)
LOX and LH2 (hydrolox)
LOX and LCH4 (methalox)

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9
Q

LOX and LH2 (hydrolox)

A
  • higher Isp
  • problem of boiloff and H2 embrittlement
  • can be supplied on Moon
  • cleaner
  • RS-25 (SLS 2nd stage)
  • BE-3 (New Glenn 2nd/3rd stage)
  • RL-10 (SLS 3rd stage, Centaur upper stage)
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10
Q

LOX and LCH4 (methalox)

A

lower Isp
* Higher boiling temperature
* can be supplied on Mars
* Raptor (Starship)
* BE-4 (New Glenn 1st stage, Vulcan 1st stage)

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11
Q

Machine demands

A

Spare parts and tools
* Mainly metal alloys and polymers
* Material and tools for repairs also need to be considered
* NASA sends up about 7,000 pounds of spare parts to the ISS every year
* 29,000 pounds of hardware spares / replacement units on ISS
(3% of total mass; 445 tons)
* Important for overall mission flexibility

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12
Q

Buildings/Settlement demands

A

Construction material
* Semi-finished parts
* Structures (foundations, reinforcements)
* Shielding (temperature, radiation, impacts)
* Logistical infrastructure (pads, berms, roads)

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13
Q

Availability on lunar/planetary surface

A

-Atmosphere
-Sunlight
-Regolith
-Vacuum
-Temperature gradients?

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14
Q

Products derived from ISRU

A

Propellants, consumables, spare parts, etc.
From regolith: construction, life support (oxygen, water etc), power from solar arrays (sillicon), construction

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15
Q

Benefits of ISRU

A
  1. Mass and Cost Reduction
  2. Reduced Emissions
  3. Space Commercialisation
  4. Risk Reduction & Flexibility
  5. Human Presence
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16
Q

How does ISRU contribute to mass and cost reduction in space missions?

A

-Reduces the need to transport resources from Earth
-Allows smaller and fewer launch vehicles
-Savings across space missions by refueling with lunar propellant

17
Q

What are the relations of ∆v, mass, and cost?

A

∆v depends on effective exhaust velocity (ve) and mass ratio (m0/mf), affecting both propellant mass and cost.

18
Q

What is the Rocket Equation?

A

∆v = ve ln(m0/mf)

m0: Initial mass
mf: Final mass
ve: Effective exhaust velocity

19
Q

What are the effective exhaust velocities (ve) for hydrolox and methalox thrusters?

A

Hydrolox: Up to 4.5 km/s

Methalox: Up to 3.6 km/s

20
Q

What cost reductions have been achieved for space missions?

A

Cost to LEO used to be >5,000 €/kg

Future cost to Moon/TLI could be 2,000–20,000 €/kg

21
Q

How does ISRU enable further cost reduction?

A

-Lunar surface refueling for return missions
-Refueling at EML1 for Mars departures
-Refueling in LEO for missions beyond GEO

22
Q

What are the emission differences between hydrolox and methalox fuels?

A

Hydrolox: H2O and NOx

Methalox: CO2, H2O, and NOx

23
Q

What processes are used for hydrogen production on Earth?

A

Steam Methane Reformation (SMR)

Electrolysis of water

24
Q

What is the goal for low-emission hydrogen production by 2030?

A

To reach 49 Mtpa H2 production

25
Q

How is methane produced for space missions?

A

Through the Sabatier reaction using CO2 and H2

26
Q

How does space commercialization benefit from ISRU?

A

-Economic motivation (e.g., satellite industry)
-Expected SRU market revenue of up to 170 B€ over 2018-2045

27
Q

How does space commercialization depend on ISRU?

A

ISRU can drive the economic model of space exploration by:

-Reducing the cost of acquiring essential resources like water and oxygen in space.

-Creating a sustainable market for space-derived resources, lowering the dependence on Earth-based supplies.

28
Q

Why is profitability essential for the commercialization of space?

A

To sustain a business, a profit must be made, which requires:

  1. Customers (e.g., space agencies, private companies, military, consumers)
  2. Products (e.g., space-derived resources like water, oxygen, or metals for construction)
    Without these elements, space ventures cannot survive commercially.
29
Q

What has historically motivated space exploration, and how is that changing?

A

Historically, space exploration was driven by:

Science (e.g., Apollo missions)
Geopolitics (e.g., Space Race)
Military advantage
National prestige
Now, the focus is shifting towards economic incentives, such as the development of space industries, similar to how the satellite industry grew.

30
Q

How is the communication satellite industry an example of space commercialization?

A

The communication satellite industry shows that economic profitability can become the primary driver of space activities. It’s a profitable sector where satellites provide communication services to businesses, governments, and individuals, proving that space-based businesses can be sustainable.

31
Q

What are the risk reduction benefits of ISRU?

A
  • Reduced risk of failures in Earth launches
    -Minimized mission risk from delays or failures
    -Recovery options from hardware failures
32
Q

How does ISRU support long-term human presence in space?

A

Enables resupply, shielding, and modular adjustments

Facilitates long-term stays without mass limitations

Space Resources (5 decks)

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