Researchers prepare gravity simulations to test lunar soil separation.

As part of a NASA-backed project to one day live on the Moon, Missouri University of Science and Technology researchers are gearing up to test a technology that aims to separate lunar soil for building materials under simulated lunar gravity. The team will use special Zero-G flights to see if their prototype can work in Moon-like conditions, bringing us one step closer to sustainable construction on the lunar surface.

Establishing a human presence on the Moon goes beyond just erecting structures; it demands an intricate orchestration where every logistical aspect is studied, tested, and refined to perfection.

From developing dust-repellent spacesuits and building autonomous robots that clear lunar landing sites to extracting breathable oxygen from regolith, every piece of this lunar puzzle is indispensable. Nothing can be left to chance – not before, during, or after a mission.

Working alongside a coalition of experts from academia and industry, NASA's Artemis program is meticulously assembling each element, ensuring that humanity's next leap into space is not only possible but sustainable.

Among the institutions paving the way for lunar habitation is Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Missouri S&T has been deeply involved in the technological research essential for long-term lunar living, including developing mineral extraction techniques, autonomous systems, and more.

The university's contributions to NASA's Lunar Surface Technology Research – a program focused on developing technologies for lunar living – exemplify the groundwork being laid for sustainable Moon infrastructure as researchers examine how lunar materials can be separated and utilized for construction, enabling the Moon itself to provide the resources necessary for human settlement.

Building on this foundation, Missouri S&T's latest endeavor takes the next step toward sustainable lunar infrastructure.

Missouri S&T

Missouri S&T researchers demonstrate their regolith separation technology, utilizing a glovebox to simulate the extraction of resources from lunar soil, paving the way for sustainable Moon infrastructure.

University researchers are preparing to test a technology that aims to separate lunar regolith under simulated lunar gravity. This project, supported by a $2 million NASA grant, involves a series of flight tests aboard Zero Gravity (Zero-G) Corp.'s aircraft, where the team will experience conditions mimicking the Moon's gravity.

"We have made fantastic progress on our technology to separate the Moon's regolith or surface-level materials, and the next natural step will be to see how it will operate under lunar gravity conditions," said Daoru Han, an S&T associate professor of aerospace engineering and the project's principal investigator. "For humankind to one day have a larger presence on the Moon, we will need to find the most sustainable and economical methods to use the resources it has available."

This technology has been under development since 2022, with key milestones including the creation of a prototype capable of efficiently separating various mineral components of lunar soil under Earth-like conditions.

The upcoming flight tests, scheduled for spring 2025, will provide the team with multiple 20-second windows of reduced gravity aboard a modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft.

During these windows, the aircraft will perform large aerobatic arc maneuvers known as parabolas, allowing researchers to simulate lunar gravity, which is roughly one-sixth that of Earth.

The S&T team will be testing a box-sized apparatus equipped with magnetic separators and electrostatic sieves, technologies designed to efficiently extract usable materials from lunar regolith. Each of these components plays a pivotal role in sorting the Moon's surface materials, and the flight tests will reveal how they behave under the unique conditions of lunar gravity.

Han and the team are optimistic that the insights gained from these tests will be instrumental in refining the prototype, ensuring that it can function effectively in the challenging conditions of the Moon.

The excitement within the research team is palpable, as these tests mark a significant milestone in their journey to contribute to lunar exploration.

"It has always been my dream to work on a project like this and conduct research for NASA, and now I am doing it before I even graduate from Missouri S&T," said Trey Brown, a senior in aerospace engineering from Rolla, Missouri. "To think that my name is going to be related to research like this, while it will ultimately contribute to future human-built structures on the Moon, is amazing."

Jonah Little, a senior in aerospace engineering from Sullivan, Missouri, shared similar sentiments.

"The work we are doing is for the future of lunar exploration," he said. "As an undergraduate student, I am already part of a project enabling something so monumental. The experiences you can gain as a student at Missouri S&T are truly unmatched when compared to other universities."

The project also highlights the involvement of many talented students at Missouri S&T, whose contributions are key to the project's success. Students like Brown and Little, along with others on the team, are gaining hands-on experience that will shape the future of lunar exploration and resource utilization. Their involvement underscores the depth of opportunity Missouri S&T provides to its students, fostering a new generation of aerospace pioneers.