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Metal Alloy Propellants Produced from Lunar Resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Aloysius F. Hepp ,
Diane L. Linne  and
Geoffrey A. Landis
Aloysius F. Hepp
Affiliation:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, John H. Glenn Research Center, Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH 44135
Diane L. Linne
Affiliation:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, John H. Glenn Research Center, Lewis Field, Cleveland, OH 44135
Geoffrey A. Landis
Affiliation:
Ohio Aerospace Institute, Brook Park, OH 44142
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Abstract

The ultimate success of a permanent lunar base will depend upon the use of available resources. Two important resources available on the moon are oxygen and metals. We examine issues, including lunar resources, processing, power, and engine performance, surrounding the use of lunar resources for metal/oxygen engines, including the performance of metal alloys as rocket fuels. Results of this analysis have uncovered several promising candidates including alloys of Al-Ca, Al-Mg, Al-Si, Ca-Mg, and Ca-Si.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 551: Symposium JJ – Materials in Space-Science, Technology & Exploration , 1998 , 39
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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