Polish scientists will test a space excavator in conditions imitating those on the Moon

Scientists will test a space excavator to extract lunar regolith. Tests in parabolic flight conditions - imitating conditions analogous to lunar gravity, without the influence of Earth's gravity - are scheduled for November.

The tests will be carried out by Polish scientists and engineers from the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and the Spacive company. They will take part in the 88th parabolic flight campaign of the European Space Agency (ESA), carried out in cooperation with the French company Novespace, the spokeswoman for the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Ewelina Zambrzycka-Kościelnicka, told PAP.

"The campaign, conducted in unique conditions of parabolic flight, i.e. imitating conditions of reduced gravity, will enable unique experiments to be carried out in conditions analogous to lunar gravity. Interactions between mechanical devices and lunar regolith will be tested," the spokeswoman said.

She added that the campaign is planned for November. The flight will take place over the Atlantic.

The main goal of the tests is to verify the technology of lunar regolith extraction - an element necessary for space missions based on the In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) concept, which includes obtaining, processing and using raw materials directly in space. Regolith is the top, dusty layer of the moon, which may be an important element for future manned missions to the Silver Globe. This dust consists mainly of oxygen, silicon, iron, calcium, titanium, aluminum and magnesium.

Regolith extraction technologies are also being developed by Polish scientific institutions. One of them is the DIGGER project carried out by the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).

As Ewelina Zambrzycka-Kościelnicka recalled, the project developed the Rotary Clamshell Excavator (RCE) device – a mechanical regolith sampler that achieved the TRL 6 technology readiness level. "This means that the device is a functional prototype that has passed environmental tests (e.g. start-up vibrations, dust, temperature), but has not yet been tested in the conditions of real lunar gravity – hence the need for parabolic flight experiments," she explained.

For the needs of parabolic flights, scientists have developed the PETER (Planetary Excavation Technology vERification system) experimental set. "The regolith will be placed in transparent containers and will be used to conduct experiments. We will examine regolith sampling, plate shear tests and angle of repose. Each day of testing, we will work on a different regolith. Additionally, in each parabola, the regolith will be reset to its nominal geotechnical parameters," explained Dr. Hab. Eng. Karol Seweryn from the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

He added that the set enables four main experiments to be carried out: evaluation of the device’s performance in lower gravity conditions; measurement of the mechanical properties of the regolith (angle of repose, plane of destruction) depending on its density; analysis of the movement of regolith grains recorded by cameras during interaction with the devices; and comparison of the effect of different regolith simulators on the cutting mechanics.

The collected results – covering nearly 100 experiments – are to be made available to the scientific community. Moreover, in Karol Seweryn's opinion, they will have "direct application in planning future manned, mining and construction missions to the Moon and other bodies of the Solar System".

As reported by the CBK PAN spokeswoman, the scientific research and preparation of the experiment are being conducted as part of a grant from the National Science Centre, led by Dr. Habil. Eng. Karol Seweryn from CBK PAN. The experiment also involves: a team from the AGH University of Science and Technology led by Dr. Habil. Eng. Alberto Gallina, responsible for geotechnical experiments; a team from the University of Warmia and Mazury led by Dr. Habil. Eng. Jacek Katzer, carrying out reference tests in laboratory conditions, and the company Spacive, responsible for the engineering preparation of the flight set. (PAP)

Science in Poland

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