The quest for life in places other than our Earth is an ongoing one for many years now. The resources on our planet are depleting at an exponential rate. There is a dire need for us to consume these resources responsibly or we will be left without them. Water crisis, global warming, and pollution have put a massive amount of burden on these exhaustible resources. Recent developments have shown slight promises of life outside the Earth.
The Masten Space Systems, Mojave, in California has introduced an advanced mechanism for mining on the moon. The surface of the moon will be mined by rovers along with regulated blasts to make the extraction of surface lining easier. The rover used is named Rocket M. and it is used to drill the ice lining of the moon which is imperative for future treks on moon and other celestial bodies.
The breakdown of the material of this mining results in water that is fit for drinking, the fuel of the rocket, and other important components which are incumbent for a successful and sustainable trip on the moon. It is highly probable that humans will go to the moon with entire paraphernalia for survival by 2024. The Rocket M was the official submission of the Masten Space System to NASA’s competition of bringing forward creative solutions for using resources on the moon to support life when the limited resources on the Earth are depleted.
The Masten rover has the capacity to excavate 12 craters in a day and make 100 kg of ice from one crater. It is able to reach 2 meters below the surface of the moon. This impressive rate of making ice and excavation is aided by the support station that helps the rover to land on the surface through a dome. The debris is collected in the dome and carried in a vacuum space that separates ice from other materials and transports it to storage units.
This powerful rover runs on solar power. It also separates hydrogen and oxygen from water which is then used to supply power to the machine. This system can support itself for around 5 years. Another system of this sort is the ‘borebot drilling system’ which aids in getting to the water below the moon’s surface as well. Projects of this kind are a hope for the survival of mankind as they bring forward alternative ways of supporting life.
