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With the development of space technology, in situ resource utilization (ISRU) of lunar resources holds great potential for constructing lunar bases. This study, for the first time, proposes the in situ construction of lunar soil simulants-based battery systems. When novel ilmenite cathode materials are applied in aqueous aluminum-ion batteries (AAIBs), a facile ball milling treatment is used to simulate the natural characteristics of lunar-based ilmenite with proper electrochemical performance. The in situ constructed lunar soil-based batteries demonstrated a practical capacity of 68.1 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 with a capacity retention rate of 89.6% after 100 cycles. Even at a high current density of 5.0 A g−1, the as-prepared batteries still maintained a capacity of 41.7 mAh g−1. This study provides a promising energy storage solution for lunar bases and promotes sustainable energy technologies through in situ utilization of lunar resources.

The return to the Moon is an important short-term goal of NASA and other international space agencies. To minimize mission risks, technologies, such as rovers or regolith processing systems, must be developed and tested on Earth using lunar regolith simulants that closely resemble the properties of real lunar soil. So far, no singular lunar simulant can cover the multitude of use cases that lunar regolith involves, and most available materials are poorly characterized. To overcome this major gap, a unique modular system for flexible adaptable novel lunar regolith simulants was developed and chemically characterized in earlier works. To supplement this, the present study provides comprehensive investigations regarding geotechnical properties of the three base regolith simulant systems: TUBS-M, TUBS-T, and TUBS-I. To evaluate the engineering and flow properties of these heterogeneous materials under various conditions, shear tests, particle size analyses, scanning electron microscope observations, and density investigations were conducted. It was shown that small grains <25 µm (lunar dust) are highly compressive and cohesive even at low external stress. They are particularly important as a large amount of fine dust is present in lunar regolith and simulants (x50 = 76.7 to 96.0 µm). Further, ring shear and densification tests revealed correlations with damage mechanisms caused by local stress peaks for grains in the mm range. In addition, an explanation for the occurrence of considerable differences in the literature-based data for particle sizes was established by comparing various measurement procedures. The present study shows detailed geotechnical investigations of novel lunar regolith simulants, which can be used for the development of equipment for future lunar exploration missions and in situ resource utilization under realistic conditions. The results also provide evidence about possible correlations and causes of known soil-induced mission risks that so far have mostly been described phenomenologically.

The in situ resource utilization of lunar regolith is of great significance for the development of planetary materials science and space manufacturing. The material extrusion deposition approach provides an advanced method for fabricating polylactide/lunar regolith simulant (PLA/CLRS-1) components. This work aims to fabricate 3D printed PLA–lunar regolith simulant (5 and 10 wt.%) components using the material extrusion 3D printing approach, and realize their solvent dissolution recycling process. The influence of the lunar regolith simulant on the mechanical and thermal properties of the 3D printed PLA/CLRS-1 composites is systematically studied. The microstructure of 3D printed PLA/CLRS-1 parts was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) analysis. The results showed that the lunar regolith simulant can be fabricated and combined with a PLA matrix utilizing a 3D printing process, only slightly influencing the mechanical performance of printed specimens. Moreover, the crystallization process of PLA is obviously accelerated by the addition of CLRS-1 because of heterogeneous nucleation. Additionally, by using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) characterization, it is found that the 3D printing and recycling processes have a negligible influence on the chemical structure and molecular weight of the PLA/CLRS-1 composites. As a breakthrough, we successfully utilize the lunar regolith simulant to print components with satisfactory mechanical properties and confirm the feasibility of recycling and reusing 3D printed PLA/CLRS-1 components via the solvent dissolution recycling approach.

With the advancement of space exploration, the development of sustainable construction technologies has become essential for the establishment of enduring extraterrestrial habitats. In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) assumes a pivotal role by facilitating the use of indigenous materials on celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars, thereby reducing reliance on terrestrial resources. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest ISRU-based construction technologies, with particular emphasis on biocementation techniques. It further examines the challenges associated with the application of biocementation in extreme space environments and outlines prospective research directions. The continued advancement of ISRU technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration remains crucial for the realization of viable and cost-efficient extraterrestrial construction solutions.

The cultivation of cyanobacteria by exploiting available in situ resources represents a possible way to supply food and oxygen to astronauts during long-term crewed missions on Mars. Here, we evaluated the possibility of cultivating the extremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis CCALA 050 under operating conditions that should occur within a dome hosting a recently patented process to produce nutrients and oxygen on Mars. The medium adopted to cultivate this cyanobacterium, named Martian medium, was obtained using a mixture of regolith leachate and astronauts’ urine simulants that would be available in situ resources whose exploitation could reduce the mission payload. The results demonstrated that C. thermalis can grow in such a medium. For producing high biomass, the best medium consisted of specific percentages (40%vol) of Martian medium and a standard medium (60%vol). Biomass produced in such a medium exhibits excellent antioxidant properties and contains significant amounts of pigments. Lipidomic analysis demonstrated that biomass contains strategic lipid classes able to help the astronauts facing the oxidative stress and inflammatory phenomena taking place on Mars. These characteristics suggest that this strain could serve as a valuable nutritional resource for astronauts.

In recent years, the space exploration is developing rapidly; therefore, human beings need the long-term sustainable supply of oxygen and fuel in the activities of space exploration. In situ resource utilization (ISRU) is a sustainable and low-cost solution, and it can reduce the dependence on carrying resources from the earth. ISRU technology might realize extraterrestrial crewed exploration, future space immigration, and other extraterrestrial activities. Taking Mars exploration as an example, the main component of Martian atmosphere is CO 2 , which can be used as a source of propulsion fuel. In this paper, a device based on microfluidic technology for ISRU was proposed. The reaction principle of the device is described, including the electrolysis reaction at the anode, the mixing of two-phase flow at the cathode, and the CO 2 reduction reaction at the cathode. The device uses electrochemical catalysis to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and fuel, which can achieve energy and matter transformation with a higher efficiency. Based on the device, the fluid flow and chemical reaction were studied; the research was carried out by simulation and experiment. The effects of microchip structural parameters and reaction conditions were analyzed. It is found that the electrochemical catalytic synthesis of CH 3 OH is affected by the gas–liquid phase flow rate, the microchannel structural parameters, the applied potential, and other conditions.

Lunar meteorites provide access to a geographically unconstrained record of the Moon, offering key insights into crustal diversity and interior evolution beyond the Apollo and Luna landing sites. Among them, the feldspathic breccia NWA 11421 is of particular interest because of its complex mineralogy and the presence of a dunite clast interpreted as a fragment of the lunar mantle. We present a non-destructive, multi-scale characterization of NWA 11421 using VIS–IR spectroscopy, µ-FTIR mapping, and µ-EDXRF. Results identify a polymict feldspathic breccia dominated by an anorthite matrix, with significant low-Ca pyroxene and olivine occurring as discrete mafic microdomains at the micro-scale. Near-infrared pyroxene band positions and Christiansen Feature (CF) value further indicate relatively mafic and primitive components. In addition, NWA 11421 CF value match with lunar crater-ejecta regions observed by the Diviner radiometer (LRO). These findings are consistent with a deep crustal or shallow mantle origin for NWA 11421 and may provide useful constraints for the selection of future landing sites, particularly in the context of ISRU-oriented human exploration, where mafic components are key sources of Fe and Mg.

In situ resource utilization (ISRU) and in situ fabrication and repair (ISFR) are critical research and technological paradigms for future space exploration. They aim to reduce reliance on Earth-supplied materials by utilizing resources available on celestial bodies, while enabling on-site fabrication and repair through the use and processing of local resources. ISRU and ISFR are strongly interconnected, with the shared objective of enabling more sustainable and autonomous long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This work presents a comprehensive and critical review of scientific and patent literature published primarily between 2010 and 2025, complemented by selected earlier seminal contributions for context. The analysis provides an integrated perspective on major technological developments, key challenges, and emerging research directions in low-gravity and microgravity environments.

Exploring austere environments required a reimagining of resource acquisition and utilization. Cyanobacterial in situ resources utilization (ISRU) and biological life support system (BLSS) bioreactors have been proposed to allow crewed space missions to extend beyond the temporal boundaries that current vehicle mass capacities allow. Many cyanobacteria and other microscopic organisms evolved during a period of Earth’s history that was marked by very harsh conditions, requiring robust biochemical systems to ensure survival. Some species work wonderfully in a bioweathering capacity (siderophilic), and others are widely used for their nutritional power (non-siderophilic). Playing to each of their strengths and having them grow and feed off of each other is the basis for the proposed idea for a series of three bioreactors, starting from regolith processing and proceeding to nutritional products, gaseous liberation, and biofuel production. In this paper, we discuss what that three reactor system will look like, with the main emphasis on the nutritional stage.

Lunar regolith is the preferred material for lunar base construction using in situ resource utilization technology. The TiO2 variations in lunar regolith collected from different locations significantly impact its suitability as a construction material. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the effects of TiO2 on the properties of lunar regolith. This study aims to evaluate the influence of TiO2 content and sintering temperature on phase transformation, microstructure, and macroscopic properties (e.g., the shrinkage rate, mechanical properties, and relative density) of lunar regolith simulant samples (CUG-1A). The flexural strength and relative density of the sample with a TiO2 content of 6 wt% sintered at 1100 °C reached 136.66 ± 4.92 MPa and 91.06%, which were 65% and 12.28% higher than those of the sample not doped with TiO2, respectively. The experiment demonstrated that the doped TiO2 not only reacted with Fe to form pseudobrookite (Fe2TiO5) but also effectively reduced the viscosity of the glass phase during heat treatment. As the sintering temperature increased, the particles underwent a gradual melting process, leading to a higher proportion of the liquid phase. The higher liquid-phase content had a positive impact on the diffusion of mass transfer, causing the voids and gaps between particles to shrink. This shrinkage resulted in greater density and, ultimately, improved the mechanical properties of the material.