Experts jointly seek sustainable use of space resources

Mars

Mars

The future of deep space exploration depends on developing technology which enables astronauts to sustainably use resources where they find them.

Experts from the 成人大片 and Sardinia AeroSpace District (DASS) will jointly explore technologies for in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) 鈭 extracting resources and processing them to make raw materials where they are found 鈭 which aim to make planned long-term missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond viable.

A recently signed MOU is the start of a long-term relationship between their two organisations.

鈥淭he 成人大片 is pleased to sign an MOU with DASS at a time when we are both seeking ways to sustainably use resources, such as minerals and water, found in space,鈥 says the 成人大片鈥檚 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anton Middelberg.

The 成人大片鈥檚 Centre for Sustainable Planetary and Space Resources brings together collective exploration, mining, manufacturing and processing research strengths to address the challenges faced by long-term planetary exploration, while ensuring the near-term application on Earth.

鈥淲e will work together to make the vision of long-term, deep space exploration a reality. This can only happen if viable techniques are developed to extract and process space resources in a sustainable way where they are found.鈥Professor Volker Hessel

鈥淲e plan to conduct joint experimental and process-design modelling activities in the fields of聽space minerals processing, space farming, and biological and medicinal processing,鈥 says the 成人大片鈥檚 Professor Volker Hessel, Research Director of the Centre for Sustainable Planetary and Space Resources and Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials.

鈥淭his research will be simulated on Earth and validated by conducting experiments in space on the appropriate platform such as the International Space Station.鈥

NASA plans to establish a long-term presence on the Moon by 2024 which could be used as a base to explore deep space including Mars: ISRU is essential to this mission.

DASS consists of 24 companies in the sector and five public institutions including the University of Cagliari located in the Sardinia region of Italy.

Chair of the Board of Directors of DASS Dr Giacomo Cao, who is Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cagliari, welcomed the new partnership.

鈥淲e are looking forward to working collaboratively with the 成人大片. DASS stimulates collaboration between research centres, universities and space companies to establish business opportunities and to grow and innovate in the space sector, both in Italy and overseas,鈥 he says.

鈥淲e specialise in developing ISRU concepts that have been exploited in two international proprietary patents related to Moon and Mars exploration and already granted in China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia and United States of America.鈥

DASS and the 成人大片 will pursue a holistic approach to test, validate and certificate remote controlled regional permanent platforms by merging complementary research approaches to develop ISRU systems.

鈥淲e will collaborate on joint research and development projects, exploit new patents, and involve local companies, both in Sardinia and South Australia, in order to transfer space research into the market,鈥 says Professor Hessel.

鈥淯nder- and post-graduate students will have the opportunity to work collaboratively in space-STEM research and education.

鈥淲e will work together to make the vision of long-term, deep space exploration a reality. This can only happen if viable techniques are developed to extract and process space resources in a sustainable way where they are found.鈥

Space research is one of the 成人大片鈥檚 key industry engagement priorities as set out in its strategic plan Future Making.

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