Lunar Extreme Water Container (LEWC)

NASA is developing in situ water retrieval technologies to excavate regolith-based water deposits from various regions on the lunar surface, then transport, store, and process them into potable water, propellant, fuel cell reactants, and life support consumables for Artemis missions. Part of this logistics chain is a collapsible water container that can operate in harsh environments such as lunar dust and Permanently Shaded Regions (PSRs) where extreme cold as low as -213C (-351F) is encountered, or in habitable vehicles. Moonprint Solutions will develop a Lunar Extreme Water Container (LEWC) that will support the transport of water to the lunar surface from earth, storage of water on the lunar surface over long periods of time or support the transport of water from production or storage locations to inside pressurized habitable volumes. The LEWC is a multi-layered collapsible assembly made from high-strength lightweight materials, has a packing factor (ratio of deployed to stowed volume) 100:1 (objective), can be deployed in cryogenic conditions without damage, and is freeze tolerant (9% volume expansion). It is also designed to provide dust mitigation when operated in the lunar dust environment by EVA crews in space suits and survive repeated use when exposed to rocks and dust on the lunar surface. The LEWC is scalable in size and shape to meet operational constraints such as ergonomic handling while wearing a space suit, minimization of footprint in an airlock, and convenient stowage in vehicles. It will be minimal mass but be robust enough to meet the durability requirements of interfacing with highly abrasive lunar dust and sharp rocks in nominal and off-nominal use (accidental drop, dragging, impact) with a target use life of 500 cycles. The materials used in the LEWC will be able to be flexed at cryogenic temperatures to accommodate deployment of an empty bag that is cold soaked, which is extremely challenging for polymeric materials. Robust multi-layer collapsible container that can transport and store water (or other fluids or dry logistics) inside or outside vehicles in space or on the lunar / Mars surface Optimized collapsible multi-layer container design with maximum packing efficiency (70%) and packing factor (100:1 objective) to reduce delivery and storage volume (logistics cost) in comparison with rigid containers Materials and container design that are freeze tolerant (9% volume expansion) Development of softgoods materials that can be flexed at cryogenic temperatures in PSRs (-215C) and not become damaged (crack / leak / lose strength) Development of softgoods materials and container design that can survive long-term handling in contact with lunar dust and rocks without loss of integrity A container that can operate in a lunar dust environment by EVA crew in space suits Development of dust shedding materials and dust transport mitigation techniques that limit the transfer of lunar dust into habitable spaces to protect crew and LSS health Technical Objectives 1.Design a reusable lightweight & highly packable water storage/transfer container for long-term lunar EVA/IVA function 2.Identify and validate softgoods materials that can flex without damage at cryogenic temperatures during PSR operation 3.Identify and validate container materials & designs that facilitate operation in lunar dust and minimization of dust transport into habitats 4.Fabricate and test full-scale units for structural and operational performance in relevant environments 5. Perform packing and EVA suit ergonomic interface studies to verify operational acceptance 6. Develop dust mitigation solutions that protect the LEWC operationally and prevent dust transfer into vehicles Key Deliverables • Materials samples and test data that verifies robustness in lunar environments (PSR temperatures of -215C, dust and radiation), and food contact capable • Prototype unit and structural / performance data (pressure integrity, drop integrity, cut & puncture resistance) • Dust mitigation solutions that protect the fill/drain connector and mitigate dust transfer into habitats • Commercialization plan • Reports: Status, ITSMP, KO, Quarterly, Final, NTSR ​​​​​​​  

The LEWC will be used for water storage and delivery to the Moon from earth, aboard space stations, and in support of ISRU activities.  It can be used similarly for Mars missions.  In addition, modified LEWCs can be used for storage of cryogenic propellants, and other fluids on the lunar surface.  The LEWC can also be used as a pressurized container for logistics transport between vehicles while on the lunar surface.  LEWC materials will support space suits, dust covers for robots, deployable vehicles, protective covers, and habitats.   The LEWC can be used by commercial space station operators for the transportation and storage of potable water,  or and gases and liquids required.  The materials can also be applied to a range of uses including commercial space suits, protective covers for robotic systems working in austere environments (industrial or military), and deployable shelters for use in polar environments.

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