The Hakubi Project

Handling of lunar and Martian regolith particles existing on the Moon and Mars is one of the challenges for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) which is a concept to realize long-term space explorations. ISRU relies on harnessing the regolith as a natural resource at exploration sites to make propellant fuels and life support consumables for astronauts and prepare repair tools and parts for robotic equipment and building materials in situ. The regolith particles are small, cohesive, and abrasive, hampering their handling in manned and unmanned ISRU processes. Mechanical and pneumatic handling techniques have been deployed in exploration missions so far, and such means have encountered some challenges, since small regolith particles easily get into a gap of mechanical drives, causing the malfunction, and production and use of liquid and gas are involved in difficulty in space environments. Therefore, my research centers on a development of new regolith handling technologies using electrostatic, magnetic, and vibration forces. Such systems have indispensable advantages for the space application, such as simple, small, and light designs and no necessity of using mechanical drives and pneumatic materials. In this seminar, I would like to introduce an overview on near- and distant- future plans of lunar exploration scenarios worldwide as well as the progress about the development of regolith handling technologies, contributing to ISRU missions.