2021年8月13日

氧气和金属粉末从月亮石的新闻稿中提取,来源:欧洲航天局月球评论英国工程师完善将月球尘埃转变为氧技术上有了突破,塑造未来的太空探索。使用专门设计的飞行员反应堆,英国公司Metalysis成功提取空气从模拟月亮石,留下公斤的金属粉,有一天被用来建造月球栖息地。这是第一次生产的副产品被这些数量。外星人的示范铺平了道路提取植物对氧和制造材料,使月球探索,同时避免发送物资从地球的巨大成本。技术甚至可以用来开发一个宇宙飞船燃料补给站在月球上。Metalysis已经开发了一个采矿过程中,目前地球上所使用的工业生产金属。在过去的一年里,公司一直在与欧洲航天局探索这一过程将会如何运用在月球环境,项目形成更广泛的机构准备的一部分支持建立一个永久的和可持续的出现在地球的天然卫星。月球风化层包含大约45%的氧气,势必金属,如铁和钛。Metalysis电化学过程发生在一个房间大小的洗衣机。模拟的风化层是淹没在熔盐和电流通过它。 This triggers the extraction of the oxygen, which then migrates across the liquid salt to collect at an electrode, leaving behind a mixture of metal powders. These powders could be 3D-printed, cast or processed into materials to construct equipment or infrastructure. As part of the project, Metalysis has been working to improve the efficiency of its extraction process. Energy is already at a premium on the Moon, so this could open up numerous opportunities for in-situ resource utilisation and advanced manufacturing. In parallel, ESA and Metalysis have challenged experts to develop an in-process monitoring system that could be used to keep track of oxygen production in future lunar extraction plants. Ian Mellor, Managing Director at Metalysis said: "We are excited to be at the forefront of this in-situ resource utilisation activity, demonstrating that multiple kilogram batches of metal alloy powder can be produced from moon rock, using the Metalysis technology. This enables new design opportunities in the construction of lunar habitats, which until now could only be envisaged conceptionally." The project is supported by ESA and the UK Space Agency. Advenit Makaya, ESA Advanced Manufacturing Engineer and technical officer for the project, said: "The work performed in this activity gives us very valuable insight into how the Metalysis process could help to support our objective of using the most abundant resource on the Moon and Mars, the regolith. This could provide the oxygen and manufacturing materials needed to ensure future sustainable activities on their surfaces." Sue Horne, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, said: "The UK is playing a leading role in space exploration, including the Rosalind Franklin rover which launches next year to search for signs of life on Mars. "Finding ways to create the things we need to support life - food, water and breathable air - will be essential for longer-term crewed missions into deep space. This exciting research from Metalysis brings us a step closer to making that possible." Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook .