Title:
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADIANT GAS DYNAMIC MINING OF PERMAFROST FOR PROPELLANT EXTRACTION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/033561
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed for mining lunar and Martian polar permafrost to extract gas propellants. The method can comprise identifying a plurality of near-polar landing sites in craters in which the surface comprises permafrost in perpetual darkness, wherein such landing sites have perpetual sunlight available at altitudes of about 100 to 200 m. A mining outpost can be established in at least one of the sites and a high altitude solar array deployed at the landing site using a lightweight mast tall enough to generate near continuous power for the outpost. Systems and apparatus are disclosed for mining the permafrost at the landing sites using radiant gas dynamic mining procedures. The systems can comprise a rover vehicle with an integrated large area dome for cryotrapping gases released from the surface and multi-wavelength radiant heating systems to provide adjustable heating as a function of depth.
Inventors:
SERCEL JOEL C (US)
LONGMAN ANTHONY (US)
SMALL JAMES (US)
LONGMAN ANTHONY (US)
SMALL JAMES (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2019/045526
Publication Date:
March 19, 2020
Filing Date:
August 07, 2019
Export Citation:
Assignee:
TRANS ASTRONAUTICA CORP (US)
International Classes:
E21C51/00; E21B7/14; E21B36/00; E21C37/16
Foreign References:
| US20160024921A1 | 2016-01-28 | |||
| US20180194626A1 | 2018-07-12 | |||
| RU2353775C1 | 2009-04-27 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ALTMAN, Daniel, E. (US)
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