Magnesium as an ISRU-Derived Resource for Lunar Structures
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 1
Abstract
Magnesium is one of the most pervasive metals in lunar soil and has many characteristics that make it applicable to in situ refining and production. This somewhat overlooked alkaline earth metal is easily cast, used, and recycled, characteristics that are required in the Moon's harsh environment. Moreover, alloys of this element have several properties fine-tuned for building shelters in a lunar environment, including several advantages over aluminum alloys. Magnesium alloys may prove to be the optimal choices for reinforcing lunar structures or manufacturing components as needed on the Moon. As such, further research on the in situ resource utilization (ISRU) of magnesium is imperative for the development of a self-sufficient lunar base. This paper brings together key properties of magnesium within the context of it being used as an in situ resource once the Moon, again, becomes a goal for permanent habitation and we require the ability to live there in perpetuity.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank Prof. Haim Baruh and the New Jersey National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Grant Consortium for interest and for supporting this effort and the reviewers, in particular, one who provided extensive and very useful feedback that was integrated into the final version of this paper.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 1 • January 2013
Pages: 152 - 159
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 18, 2011
Accepted: Mar 28, 2012
Published online: Dec 15, 2012
Published in print: Jan 1, 2013
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