Dr. Terry Triffet Space Engineering Research Center 4717 East Fort Lowell Rd. / Tucson, Arizona 85712 University of Arizona / NASA Space Engineering Research Center for the Utilization of Local Planetary Resources Extraterrestrial Resources: Stepping Stones to the Stars Innovations in space technology are needed if our dream of settling other planets in the solar system is to become reality. The idea of "mining" and processing resources on another planet to support man's presence there and his travels in the solar system may help make this dream possible. The UA/NASA Space Engineering Research Center, a national center for space engineering, research, and educaton, seeks out the means to make habitation on Earth's moon and other planets affordable by using the resources found there. Research at the Center focuses on making useful products—water, fuels, building materials—from materials (and energy) that occur naturally in near-Earth space. Offering numerous research opportunities for students interested in the space resources field, the Center also serves as a meeting ground where government agencies and private sector companies can create strategies for establishing industries in space, and develop the hardware to do the job in the severe environments near-Earth planetary bodies present. Research at the Center emphasizes: * Investigating methods of producing oxygen and hydrogen for rocket propellant and other products from Lunar and Martian materials ♦ Developing artificially intelligent control and communication systems for remote materials-processing plants designed to operate autonomously ♦ Defining the conditions necessary to optimize the production of such materials while minimizing energy consumption ♦ Searching the skies and tracking near-Earth asteroids that may also provide valuable resources for space exploration and development Student Research: The Center offers abundant research opportunity, in which both graduate and undergraduate students participate extensively, as well as course work in numerous engineering and science departments. Ongoing areas of student research include: ♦ Fuel for space exploration. The Center is exploring ways to extract oxygen from materials found on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids that could then be used in the production of chemical propellants for spacecraft. ♦ Oxygen from Carbon Dioxide. The Center has produced a pilot plant engineering demonstration system: oxygen production from a simulated Martian atmosphere. ♦ Building Materials. After Lunar soil has been mined for its oxygen, for example, it can be processed into bricks, beams, metals and ceramic/composite materials from which habitable structures and a variety of useful products can be constructed. Education Programs: Students at the Center are also actively involved in reaching out to the surrounding community, providing elementary, middle, and high school students the opportunity to work on its experiments, a hands-on approach to student involvement directed toward attracting the nation's youth to technical careers. ■ Publications: The Center provides information services, at no charge, to interested individuals and organization. For a complete list of available publications and further infrirmatinn nn ontor rnntoot'
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