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Completed TRL 5 (started at 5, targeting 6)
Regolith Beneficiation for Lunar ISRU (LuSTR) is an integrated system for particle size classification and enrichment of anorthite from lunar regolith simulants (both mare and highland). This hardware includes two subsystems — a magnetic separation subsystem for enrichment of anorthite minerals and an electrostatic sieving system for separation according to particle size. The core technology, lunar regolith beneficiation with magnetic and electrostatic mechanisms, has the potential to impact lunar in-situ metal and oxygen extraction, additive manufacturing, and sintering processes by providing a refined product with low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements. The innovation of this technology lies in the use of electrodynamical means (i.e., magnetic separation and electrostatic sieving), rather than mechanical (i.e., vibrational) to beneficiate lunar regolith for wider use of lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).
Problem Statement The NASA Technology Strategy Framework lists ISRU as a necessary capability: To develop scalable ISRU production/utilization capabilities, including sustainable commodities on the lunar and Mars surface. To meet this need, ISRU lunar regolith beneficiation (separation and enrichment) is needed to feed the downstream processing steps for producing construction materials based on calcium and aluminum. This technology uses electrodynamical rather than mechanical means to beneficiate lunar regolith for wider ISRU in lunar and Mars habitats. The technology also has the potential to impact lunar in-situ metal and oxygen extraction, additive manufacturing, and sintering processes by providing a refined product with low SWaP-C requirements and thus enable/advance a wide range of downstream ISRU processes.
Technology Maturation Preliminary ground testing under 1g shows promising key performance metrics in terms of size separation and purity (up to 95% by weight of target-sized anorthite), as well as high sensitivity to some configuration settings (e.g., frequency of electrostatic waves for sieving). Testing in lunar gravity (1/6g) is essential to evaluate the key performance of the entire system. Specific measurements from flight testing would include size distribution and composition of collected particles at key stations along the pathway of beneficiation: during initial feed, after magnetic separation, after electrostatic sieving, and during final collection. Flight testing results will also be used to compare with performance metrics under 1 g. These comparisons will help validate and verify modeling and simulation efforts and inform optimization for further design, build, and test efforts.
Summary of Flight Test
2025-04-29 Missouri S&T researchers tested regolith beneficiation technology in lunar gravity during parabolic flights to advance lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). The integrated hardware achieved size separation of a variety of lunar regolith simulants, paving the way for several downstream ISRU processes such as metal/oxygen extraction through electrolysis.
- Robust: Has low SWaP-C and uses minimal mechanical moving parts, resulting in less chance of failure - Wide-ranging: Uses combined electrostatic and magnetic means for beneficiation, resulting in wider uses for lunar regolith
Future Customers
- Beneficiation of lunar regolith for downstream ISRU processes
- Lunar in-situ metal and oxygen extraction
- Additive manufacturing
- Sintering processes
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