in-situ resource utilization
NASA Wants to Learn to Live Off the Land on the Moon
In preparation for the upcoming Artemis missions to the lunar south pole, NASA recently solicited a Request for Information (RFI)…
Building Roads Out of Moon Dust
Astronauts will face a host of obstacles when they visit the Moon again. There's powerful radiation, wild temperature swings, and…
A Comprehensive Blueprint for the Settlement of Mars
A new study considers all the challenges, benefits, and necessary steps for settling Mars.
One Day Astronauts Will Be Breathing Oxygen Made From Rocks
When there's a permanent base on the Moon, astronauts will need a way to replenish their oxygen supply. Fortunately, there's…
It Should be Possible to Farm on the Moon
An astronaut’s gotta eat, right? Especially if they are on a long-duration mission to places like the Moon. Scientists have…
Instead of Building Structures on Mars, we Could Grow Them With the Help of Bacteria
A new process that combines bacteria and lichen could "grow" bricks from Martian soil. The proposal selected for development by…
We’ll be Building Self-Replicating Probes to Explore the Milky Way Sooner Than you Think. Why Haven’t ETIs?
The future can arrive in sudden bursts. What seems a long way off can suddenly jump into view, especially when…
Two Spacecraft Could Work Together to Capture an Asteroid and Bring it Close to Earth for Mining
Humanity seems destined to expand into the Solar System. What exactly that looks like, and how difficult and tumultuous the…
Explorers Could Build Bricks on Mars with Bacteria and Pee
The famous Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky once said, “Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot remain in…
There are Places Where Salty Water Could Emerge Onto the Surface of Mars
The existence of water on Mars is a contentious subject. We know there used to be water on the surface…