Excavation and Construction
Goals of the LSIC-E&C Focus Group include identifying challenges to excavation and construction in lunar environments and exploring current industry technologies that will lead to sustaining a human lunar presence.
To create a community focused on lunar excavation and construction, identify challenges currently facing lunar excavation and construction, explore technologies that can combat those issues, and maintain community recommendations.
During its first year, the LSIC E&C FG identified needs and gaps in E&C, provided recommendations to foster development, and created a roadmap for developing and fielding that technology.
More specifically, the FG worked to expand the community by establishing various technical categories that help manage and steer technical discussions. These categories include:
To engage the community, the FC designed discussion questions, housed on Confluence, to guide the conversation and provide context for E&C.
The LSIC E&C monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at 2:00 PM ET. For meeting information and agendas, please email lsic-wiki-admins@listserv.jhuapl.edu.
Autonomy, Maintenance, Site Planning & Prep
Additive Manufacturing, Raw Materials
Horizontal & Vertical Construction
Outfitting
Outfitting is the process by which a structural system is transformed into a usable system by in-situ installation of subsystems, as well as the associated planning and preparation required for this process. Put simply, it is making a house a home. Although this is a relatively new area to E&C and not much has been done yet, outfitting will be important for a sustainable lunar presence.
August 2023 Telecon
Joint Excavation & Construction / Extreme Access Autonomy Workshop
April 2023 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
March 2023 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
February 2023 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
January 2023 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
December 2022 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
November 2022 Telecon
LSIC Fall Meeting
September 2022 Telecon
Excavation + Construction - Monthly FG
August 2022 Telecon
Excavation & Construction - Monthly FG
July 2022 Telecon
Excavation and Construction and Extreme Environments - Monthly FG
May 2022 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
May 2022 Telecon
LSIC Spring Meeting
April 2022 Telecon
Dust Mitigation + Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
April 2022 Telecon
MOSA Working Group
March 2022 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
February 2022 Telecon
Regolith to Rebar: ISRU - E&C Metal Workshop
January 2022 Telecon
Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG
December 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
November 2021 Telecon
LSIC Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
November 2021 Telecon
Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Fall Meeting
September 2021 Telecon
August 2021 Telecon
LSIC Exc. Constr. Workshop
July 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
May 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
April 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
March 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
February 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
January 2021 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
November 2020 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
October 2020 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
October 2020 Telecon
Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Virtual Fall Meeting
September 2020 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
August 2020 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
July 2020 Telecon
Excavation and Construction Monthly FG
February 2020 Telecon
Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium National Kickoff Meeting
Power
A continuous power supply is necessary to create a sustained lunar presence, especially during the initial stages when excavation and construction will be needed to establish this presence. The Surface Power Focus Group has developed technologies to supply this continuous power throughout day and night.
What power considerations are necessary for E&C operation?
ISRU
To create a sustained presence on the Moon, it is important to make use of the resources that can be found on the surface, rather than relying on resources being transported from Earth. The In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Focus Group has advanced technologies that will allow for the collection, processing, storing, and use of material found on the lunar surface.
How can processes (like collecting and purifying water, sorting granular lunar regolith, measuring oxygen content) provide natural materials necessary for construction and how can this impact our construction techniques?
How can we create materials for Additive Manufacturing (or 3D Printing) or concrete?
Extreme Environments
Excavation and construction on the lunar surface require technologies that can withstand extreme conditions, for example, drastic temperature changes and permanently shadowed regions. The Extreme Environments Focus Group has progressed these technologies, allowing for full-range operation and survival.
How may lunar geophysical features alter the way we think about E&C on the Moon?
Dust Mitigation
Dust mitigation is a crucial component to being able to establish a sustained lunar presence. As the dust is angular and highly electrostatic, it can easily and quickly build up and cause damage to spacesuits, equipment, and even human health. The Dust Mitigation Focus Group has developed technologies to protect lunar systems and allow for excavation and construction to take place in order to create this sustained presence.
How can lunar dust impact E&C equipment?
Extreme Access
To create a sustained lunar presence, we will need to go to areas that we have not been to so that excavation and construction can take place. The Extreme Access Focus Group has expanded technologies that enable both human and robotic systems to access, navigate, and explore previously inaccessible lunar areas.
How can we prepare to access lunar areas that may not have been accessed before?
Permanently shadowed regions are dark and cold, while the opposite is true for peaks of eternal light, so equipment will need to be able to work in these sorts of conditions.
Open to LSIC members only.
To request access, please contact lsic-wiki-admins@listserv.jhuapl.edu.
LSIC WikiComplete survey to request access.
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