Targeting Chang'E-8 mission'in-situ resource utilization(ISRU)for sustainable lunar habitats,laser powder bed fusion(LPBF)provides a viable pathway for in-situ additive manufacturing of lunar regolith.To eluci...Targeting Chang'E-8 mission'in-situ resource utilization(ISRU)for sustainable lunar habitats,laser powder bed fusion(LPBF)provides a viable pathway for in-situ additive manufacturing of lunar regolith.To elucidate mission relevant mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of LPBF fabricated lunar regolith simulants,mare type and highland type simulant specimens were produced.Microstructural characterization,mechanical test coupled with three-dimensional digital image correlation(3D-DIC),and an energy-dissipation framework were employed for comprehensive analysis.The pristine highland specimens achieved 5.79 MPa and a peak strain of 0.13(50 mm×50 mm×30 mm),significantly outperforming their mare counterparts.Wire-cutting to 20 mm×20 mm×20 mm lowered strength by~20%and peak strain to 0.04,indicating cutting-induced defects reduce ductility.All specimens displayed multipeaked stress–strain curves.3D-DIC revealed band-type strain localization in pristine highland samples,diffuse strain patterns in cut highland samples,and highly tortuous,network-type bands in mare samples;the anisotropy index was also quantified.Fragmented particles exhibited fractal dimensions ranging from 1.6 to 2.0(size 1.25–9 mm).Energy evolution progressed through three distinct stages:elastic energy storage,progressive energy dissipation delaying crack propagation,and final unstable collapse.An energy-based damage model was established and validated.The data and methods developed support Chang'E-8 missions'ISRU demonstrations and establish a transferable framework toward sustainable lunar habitats.展开更多
The authors apologize for the erroneous transcription of the average chemical composition data of Apollo lunar soil samples in Table 4.The difference in chemical composition between lunar regolith simulants and actual...The authors apologize for the erroneous transcription of the average chemical composition data of Apollo lunar soil samples in Table 4.The difference in chemical composition between lunar regolith simulants and actual lunar samples is an important indicator for evaluating their similarity.For comparison,Table 4 lists the chemical compositions of Apollo 12,Apollo 14,Apollo 15,Apollo 16,and other classic lunar regolith simulants.However,the Apollo lunar soil data in the original Table 4 contained errors,which have been corrected in this corrigendum.展开更多
The giant impact hypothesis for the Moon's origin has had difficulty explaining the nearly identical isotopic compositions of Moon rocks and rocks from Earth's silicate mantle and crust.These similarities are ...The giant impact hypothesis for the Moon's origin has had difficulty explaining the nearly identical isotopic compositions of Moon rocks and rocks from Earth's silicate mantle and crust.These similarities are instead more compatible with the Darwin-Wise hypothesis that the Moon arose by fission of a rapidly spinning Earth.To overcome problems with the fission model concerning structural stability and angular momentum conservation,some authors suggested that lunar fission was feasible on a more slowly rotating Earth if assisted by a nuclear explosion near the core-mantle boundary.In this light we consider the possible roles of the large low-velocity provinces(LLVPs).These long-lived structures have been implicated in diverse geophysical processes ranging from deep mantle plumes to continental breakup and mass extinction events.While the LLVPs have been seen as possible remnants of the giant imp actor,we propose that one of them was the site of lunar ejection.Internal heating of the liquid core is suggested to have given rise to an equatorial belt just under the core-mantle boundary analogous to the one recently detected by Ma and Tkalcic[Sci Adv 10(35):eadn5562,2024].Upwellings of heat and volatiles from this belt then generated two antipodal,equatorial bulges:the precursors of the Pacific and African LLVPs.Prior to the emergence of plate tectonics,core heat was mainly dissipated by networks of deep mantle plumes extending above the proto-LLVPs.These plume networks represent conduits of weakened mantle through which proto-lunar materials could later rise in a focused ejection.Continuing heat buildup in the core eventually triggered a cataclysmic explosion in the Pacific proto-LLVP,possibly analogous to a planetary-scale kimberlite eruption.This explosion launched LLVP and overlying mantle material into a low Earth orbit,where it coalesced to form the Moon.Some possible sources of additional energy to power the explosion are considered,including nuclear fission,bolide impacts and a hypothetical gravitational decay process culminating in a'A event'.展开更多
Nanophase iron particles(np-Fe^(0))have multiple formation mechanisms in lunar soil,which are mostly related to meteorite and micro meteorite impacts.Thermal modification of the impact is critical.Metal oxides have un...Nanophase iron particles(np-Fe^(0))have multiple formation mechanisms in lunar soil,which are mostly related to meteorite and micro meteorite impacts.Thermal modification of the impact is critical.Metal oxides have unique chemical and physical properties that allow np-Fe^(0) to form at a lower initial reaction temperature.Through the insitu heating experiment of ilmenite in the Chang'e-5 sample,it was found that ilmenite can form np-Fe^(0) at 400℃under high vacuum(10-6 Pa).This fills in the missing information on the lowest measured temperature at which ilmenite forms np-Fe^(0).At 400-800℃,only np-Fe^(0) and vesicles were formed without new Ti-rich minerals.At the same time,thermodynamic calculations showed that decomposition of ilmenite occurs in two stages.The experiments correspond to the initial stage of ilmenite thermal decomposition under high vacuum.The study explains the thermal decomposition reaction of ilmenite in a vacuum environment,provides a reference for the minimum measured temperature required for the formation of np-Fe^(0),and further improves the formation mechanism of np-Fe^(0).展开更多
According to the history of lunar detection, the relationship between selenodesy and lunar detection is reviewed , and the focus of the lunar detection and the lunar detection plan of China are summarized. The key tec...According to the history of lunar detection, the relationship between selenodesy and lunar detection is reviewed , and the focus of the lunar detection and the lunar detection plan of China are summarized. The key techniques of selenodesy are presented, and the applications of selenodesy to the lunar detection are discussed.展开更多
INTRODUCTION The Chang'e-6 mission recently returned the first sample from the lunar farside. The sampling site was located on a flat basaltic maria that was emplaced at ~2.8 Ga in the Apollo Basin(Zhang Q W L et ...INTRODUCTION The Chang'e-6 mission recently returned the first sample from the lunar farside. The sampling site was located on a flat basaltic maria that was emplaced at ~2.8 Ga in the Apollo Basin(Zhang Q W L et al., 2025;Cui et al., 2024), which formed in the northeastern portion of the South Pole-Aitken(SPA) Basin.展开更多
The rich resources and unique environment of the Moon make it an ideal location for human expansion and the utilization of extraterrestrial resources.Oxygen,crucial for supporting human life on the Moon,can be extract...The rich resources and unique environment of the Moon make it an ideal location for human expansion and the utilization of extraterrestrial resources.Oxygen,crucial for supporting human life on the Moon,can be extracted from lunar regolith,which is highly rich in oxygen and contains polymetallic oxides.This oxygen and metal extraction can be achieved using existing metallurgical techniques.Furthermore,the ample reserves of water ice on the Moon offer another means for oxygen production.This paper offers a detailed overview of the leading technologies for achieving oxygen production on the Moon,drawing from an analysis of lunar resources and environmental conditions.It delves into the principles,processes,advantages,and drawbacks of water-ice electrolysis,two-step oxygen production from lunar regolith,and one-step oxygen production from lunar regolith.The two-step methods involve hydrogen reduction,carbothermal reduction,and hydrometallurgy,while the one-step methods encompass fluorination/chlorination,high-temperature decomposition,molten salt electrolysis,and molten regolith electrolysis(MOE).Following a thorough comparison of raw materials,equipment,technology,and economic viability,MOE is identified as the most promising approach for future in-situ oxygen production on the Moon.Considering the corrosion characteristics of molten lunar regolith at high temperatures,along with the Moon's low-gravity environment,the development of inexpensive and stable inert anodes and electrolysis devices that can easily collect oxygen is critical for promoting MOE technology on the Moon.This review significantly contributes to our understanding of in-situ oxygen production technologies on the Moon and supports upcoming lunar exploration initiatives.展开更多
0 INTRODUCTION The lunar surface lacks an atmosphere and is continuously subjected to a combination of space weathering factors such as cosmic rays,solar wind,and micrometeorite impacts,forming a several-meter-thick l...0 INTRODUCTION The lunar surface lacks an atmosphere and is continuously subjected to a combination of space weathering factors such as cosmic rays,solar wind,and micrometeorite impacts,forming a several-meter-thick lunar regolith(Sorokin et al.,2020).展开更多
The autonomous navigation capabilities of the lunar roving vehicles(LRVs)rely on optical sensors.However,lunar dust emitted by the wheels diffuses around the rover and causing surface adsorption,threatening the perfor...The autonomous navigation capabilities of the lunar roving vehicles(LRVs)rely on optical sensors.However,lunar dust emitted by the wheels diffuses around the rover and causing surface adsorption,threatening the performance of the optical detection system.This study delves into the distribution of dust emissions caused by rovers and their effects on the light transmission of optical sensors’lenses.A multiscale hierarchical discrete element method(MSH-DEM)incorporating ground experiments was adopted to analyze the dust emissions from LRVs,providing an assessment of dust deposition on sensor lenses under different driving conditions.Results show that the adsorption probability is close to 100%for particle sizes less than 10μm or collision velocities less than 1 m/s.After the LRV traveled forward at a speed of 10 km/h for 1 h,the light transmission of the sun sensor decreases by 5.29%,and that of the star sensor decreases by 1.88%.The two stereo cameras are minimally affected by the dust deposition.Left-steering conditions will increase the dust deposition on the stereo cameras and star sensors located on the right side of the LRV.Uphill conditions have a mitigating effect on lunar dust deposition,while downhill increases the dust deposition on the star sensor.These findings are crucial for assessing the potential impact of lunar dust on optical sensors and the accuracy of autonomous navigation.展开更多
The study presents the results of over 30,000 numerical analyses on the stability of lava tubes under lunar conditions.The research considered random irregularities in cave geometry and their impact on stability,with ...The study presents the results of over 30,000 numerical analyses on the stability of lava tubes under lunar conditions.The research considered random irregularities in cave geometry and their impact on stability,with a particular focus on the geometric characteristics of identified collapses.We propose a procedure for extracting the collapse areas and integrating it into the stability analysis results.The results were examined to assess the possibility of describing the geometry characteristics of collapses using commonly applied probability density distributions,such as normal or lognormal distribution.Our aim is to facilitate future risk assessment of lunar caves.Such an assessment will be essential prior to robotically exploring caves beneath the lunar surface and can be extended to be used for planetary caves beyond the Moon.Our findings indicate that several collapse characteristics can be represented by unimodal probability density distributions,which could significantly simplify the candidate selection process.Based on our results,we also highlight several key directions for future research and suggested implications related to their future exploration.展开更多
The utilization of lunar resources is critical for the long-term sustainability of China's lunar exploration missions.In-situ manufacturing and construction using lunar regolith as the primary feedstock can provid...The utilization of lunar resources is critical for the long-term sustainability of China's lunar exploration missions.In-situ manufacturing and construction using lunar regolith as the primary feedstock can provide essential support for establishing,operating,and maintaining lunar bases.This paper presents a comprehensive review of current lunar regolith forming technologies.These methods fall into two main categories,depending on whether Earth-based additives are required during the forming process.Direct forming technologies rely entirely on local materials and require minimal or no external input.In contrast,indirect forming technologies depend on additional binders or components transported from Earth.The advantages and limitations of each approach are analyzed across several dimensions,including technical principles,forming speed,forming precision,forming quality,environmental adaptability,energy consumption,and process simplicity.This paper evaluates the application potential of each method in two key lunar use cases:large-scale infrastructure construction and flexible manufacturing of fine-structured components.Based on this analysis,development trends and strategic recommendations are proposed to support the optimization and deployment of in-situ resource utilization-based lunar regolith forming technologies for diverse lunar surface applications.展开更多
Lunar Laser Ranging has extremely high requirements for the pointing accuracy of the telescopes used.To improve its pointing accuracy and solve the problem of insufficiently accurate telescope pointing correction achi...Lunar Laser Ranging has extremely high requirements for the pointing accuracy of the telescopes used.To improve its pointing accuracy and solve the problem of insufficiently accurate telescope pointing correction achieved by tracking stars in the all-sky region,we propose a processing scheme to select larger-sized lunar craters near the Lunar Corner Cube Retroreflector as reference features for telescope pointing bias computation.Accurately determining the position of the craters in the images is crucial for calculating the pointing bias;therefore,we propose a method for accurately calculating the crater position based on lunar surface feature matching.This method uses matched feature points obtained from image feature matching,using a deep learning method to solve the image transformation matrix.The known position of a crater in a reference image is mapped using this matrix to calculate the crater position in the target image.We validate this method using craters near the Lunar Corner Cube Retroreflectors of Apollo 15 and Luna 17 and find that the calculated position of a crater on the target image falls on the center of the crater,even for image features with large distortion near the lunar limb.The maximum image matching error is approximately 1″,and the minimum is only 0.47″,which meets the pointing requirements of Lunar Laser Ranging.This method provides a new technical means for the high-precision pointing bias calculation of the Lunar Laser Ranging system.展开更多
A key component of future lunar missions is the concept of in-situ resource utilization(ISRU),which involves the use of local resources to support human missions and reduce dependence on Earth-based supplies.This pape...A key component of future lunar missions is the concept of in-situ resource utilization(ISRU),which involves the use of local resources to support human missions and reduce dependence on Earth-based supplies.This paper investigates the thermal processing capability of lunar regolith without the addition of binders,with a focus on large-scale applications for the construction of lunar habitats and infrastructure.The study used a simulant of lunar regolith found on the Schr?dinger Basin in the South Pole region.This regolith simulant consists of20 wt%basalt and 80 wt%anorthosite.Experiments were conducted using a high power CO_(2)laser to sinter and melt the regolith in a 80 mm diameter laser spot to evaluate the effectiveness of direct large area thermal processing.Results indicated that sintering begins at approximately 1180℃and reaches full melt at temperatures above 1360℃.Sintering experiments with this material revealed the formation of dense samples up to 11 mm thick,while melting experiments successfully produced larger samples by overlapping molten layers and additive manufacturing up to 50 mm thick.The energy efficiency of the sintering and melting processes was compared.The melting process was about 10 times more energy efficient than sintering in terms of material consolidation,demonstrating the promising potential of laser melting technologies of anorthosite-rich regolith for the production of structural elements.展开更多
Lunar in-situ construction using additive manufacturing(AM)technology has emerged as a critical pathway for sustainable extraterrestrial exploration.This review systematically evaluates two dominant AM paradigms for l...Lunar in-situ construction using additive manufacturing(AM)technology has emerged as a critical pathway for sustainable extraterrestrial exploration.This review systematically evaluates two dominant AM paradigms for lunar regolith processing:low-temperature deposition forming(material extrusion and binder jetting),and high-energy beam additive manufacturing(powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition).Low-temperature methods achieve moderate compressive strength with low energy consumption but face challenges such as binder dependency and vacuum instability.By contrast,high-energy beam techniques enable binder-free fabrication with better compatibility for in-situ resource utilization,though they suffer from porosity,high energy intensity,and geometric limitations.In the context of lunar in-situ resource utilization(ISRU),low-temperature methods offer near-term feasibility for small-scale infrastructure,while high-energy approaches show promise for large-scale,autonomous construction by leveraging solar energy and raw regolith.Future advancements will hinge on hybrid systems that integrate material efficiency,energy sustainability,and robotic adaptability to overcome extreme environmental challenges.This review consolidates technological progress,identifies interdisciplinary synergies,and provides strategic insights into guiding the transition from Earth-dependent prototypes to self-sufficient lunar habitats,ultimately advancing the capability of humanity for a long-term extraterrestrial presence.展开更多
Acquiring pristine deep lunar regolith cores with appropriate drilling tools is crucial for deciphering the lunar geological history.Conventional thick-walled drill bits are inherently limited in obtaining deep lunar ...Acquiring pristine deep lunar regolith cores with appropriate drilling tools is crucial for deciphering the lunar geological history.Conventional thick-walled drill bits are inherently limited in obtaining deep lunar regolith samples,whereas thin-walled coring bits offer a promising solution for lunar deep drilling.To support future lunar deep exploration missions,this study systematically investigates the failure mechanisms of lunar regolith induced by thin-walled drilling tools.Firstly,five thin-walled bit configurations were designed and evaluated based on drilling load,coring efficiency,and disturbance minimization,with Bit D demonstrating optimal overall performance.And the interaction mechanisms between differently configured coring bits and large-particle lunar regolith were elucidated.Coring experiments under critical drilling parameters revealed an operational window for the feed-to-rotation ratio(FRR of 2.0–2.5),effectively balancing drilling load and core recovery rate.Furthermore,a novel theoretical framework was developed to characterize dynamic drilling load parameters,supported by experimental validation.Based on these findings,practical strategies are proposed to mitigate drilling-induced disturbances,including parameter optimization and bit structural improvements.This research could provide valuable insights for designing advanced lunar deep drilling tools and developing drilling procedures.展开更多
Building a lunar human base is one of the important goals of human lunar exploration.This paper proposes a method for the production of oxygen by combining photothermal synergistic water decomposition with high-temper...Building a lunar human base is one of the important goals of human lunar exploration.This paper proposes a method for the production of oxygen by combining photothermal synergistic water decomposition with high-temperature carbon dioxide electrolysis,utilizing the full solar spectrum.The optimal oxygen production rates under different solid oxide electrolysis cell inlet temperatures T_(e),ultraviolet(UV)separation wavelengths λ_(2),infrared(IR)separation wavelengths,and photovoltaic cell materials were explored.The results indicate that the inlet temperature of the solid oxide electrolysis cell should be as high as possible so that more carbon dioxide can be converted into carbon monoxide and oxygen.Furthermore,when the ultraviolet separation wavelength is approximately 385 nm,the proportion of solar energy allocated to the photoreaction and electrolysis cell is optimal,and the oxygen production rate is highest at 2.754×10^(-4) mol/s.Moreover,the infrared separation wavelength should be increased as much as possible within the allowable range to increase the amount of solar radiation allocated to the electrolysis cell to improve the rate of oxygen generation.In addition,copper indium gallium selenide(CIGS)has a relatively large separation wavelength,which can result in a high oxygen production rate of 3.560×10^(-4) mol/s.The proposed integrated oxygen production method can provide a feasible solution for supplying oxygen to a lunar human base.展开更多
NWA 6950 is a type of cumulate gabbro meteorite that displays features indicating a lunar origin.Specifically,the Fe/Mn values of olivines and pyroxenes in the meteorite suggest a lunar origin,as does the presence of ...NWA 6950 is a type of cumulate gabbro meteorite that displays features indicating a lunar origin.Specifically,the Fe/Mn values of olivines and pyroxenes in the meteorite suggest a lunar origin,as does the presence of Fe-Ni metal.The meteorite has also undergone intense shock metamorphism,which is evidenced by the presence of ringwoodite,tuite,and xieite(a type of chromite with a CaTi_(2)O_(4)structure)within the shock melt veins(SMVs).The texture,mineral modal abundances,and bulk compositions(measured from the SMVs)of NWA 6950 are similar to those of the NWA 773 clan,as are the concentrations and patterns of rare-earth-elements in olivine,pyroxene,plagioclase,and phosphate.In-situ U-Pb dating of baddeleyite and phosphate in NWA 6950 has determined its crystallization age to be 3133±11 and 3129±23 Ma,which is consistent with age data provided by Shaulis et al.(2017).Further,the chronology of the NWA 773 clan appears to be at least bimodal when considering the age of NWA 3333(3038±20 Ma;Merle et al.,2020).The tight range of ages for the NWA 773 clan at approximately 3.1 Ga coincides with a change in the eruption flux and style on the Moon.This suggests that lunar volcanism may have shifted from extrusivedominated to intrusive-dominated at approximately 3.1 Ga,resulting in the widespread distribution of gabbro lithologies on the Moon.展开更多
Landing spacecraft experience significant impact forces during landing,resulting in large deformation and failure in the soil surface,which severely affects landing safety and stability.This paper establishes a smooth...Landing spacecraft experience significant impact forces during landing,resulting in large deformation and failure in the soil surface,which severely affects landing safety and stability.This paper establishes a smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)model based on the theory of soil elastoplastic constitutive relations to describe the process of a lander’s footpad impacting lunar regolith vertically.The model can provide engineering indices such as impact load and penetration depth,and illustrate the large deformation and crater characteristics of the regolith.A detailed analysis of the response of the footpad and lunar regolith during landing reveals that the process can be broadly divided into two stages of rapid penetration and oscillatory attenuation.Furthermore,there are significant similarities in the landing process under different landing velocities and footpad masses.The research investigates the large deformation and crater characteristics of the lunar regolith bed.The results demonstrate two failure modes in the regolith.Under the impact of a footpad with a smaller mass,the final failure surface of the regolith exhibits a bowl-shaped profile with a uniformly open mouth.In contrast,under the impact of a footpad with a larger mass,the final failure surface of the regolith presents an urn-shaped profile with a large abdomen and a small opening.However,the impact craters in both scenarios show a bowl-like distribution.In cases of high-velocity impacts,the impact crater exhibits obvious blocky spalling on its sides.The SPH model developed in this study can be applied to predict the large deformation and failure response of lunar soil under the impact of rigid structures as well as the impact load and penetration depth.It effectively predicts the dynamic response of the landing process,which is expected to provide a reference for engineering design.展开更多
As lunar exploration develops,lunar construction is increasingly prominent and the in-situ lunar regolith molding becomes a technical challenge.This study proposes a lunar regolith molding technology based on biocarbo...As lunar exploration develops,lunar construction is increasingly prominent and the in-situ lunar regolith molding becomes a technical challenge.This study proposes a lunar regolith molding technology based on biocarbonated magnesium oxide(MgO)with urea pre-hydrolyzed,which has the potential to achieve an unconfined compressive strength(UCS)of approximately 10 MPa after 24 h of curing.The study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of biocarbonated lunar regolith samples with varying urea concentrations,bacterial concentrations,and MgO contents.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was employed to examine the microstructural properties of the samples.The results demonstrated that the maximum UCS and E_(50)were achieved at a urea concentration of 1.0 mol/L,a bacterial concentration of 1.0,and a MgO content of 15%.However,the carbonate content test indicated that the highest urea efficiency was observed at 10%MgO.Microscopic images show that the produced hydromagnesite is the most structured at the urea concentrations of 1.0 mol/L and 2.0 mol/L,corresponding well with the strength performance of the specimens.The pre-hydrolysis method can promote the efficiency of biocarbonated magnesium oxide but it highly depends on the concentration of the produced carbonate.Conclusively,the findings of this study offer a promising avenue for lunar regolith molding.展开更多
The utilization of lunar regolith for construction on the lunar surface presents a critical challenge in-situ resource utilization.This study proposes a lunar regolith manufacturing method that uses a high-performance...The utilization of lunar regolith for construction on the lunar surface presents a critical challenge in-situ resource utilization.This study proposes a lunar regolith manufacturing method that uses a high-performance resin binder characterized by a high regolith content and strong forming capabilities.A combined resin material with both thermosetting and photosetting properties was developed and mixed with lunar regolith to create a slurry.This slurry can be directly molded or additively extruded into green bodies with specific structures.These green bodies can self-cure under the high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation experienced during the lunar day,reducing energy consumption and fulfilling the requirements of lunar construction.The material-forming processes and effects of various additive types and concentrations,regolith mass ratios,and processing parameters on the properties of the slurry and the formed specimens were thoroughly investigated.The mechanical performance and microstructure of the fabricated samples were analyzed.The lunar regolith mass ratio reached 90 wt%(approximately 79 vol%),with the highest compressive strengths exceeding 60 MPa for cast specimens and 30 MPa for printed samples.This technology shows significant potential for enabling in-situ lunar regolith-based construction in future lunar missions.展开更多
基金supported by the Young Student Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.525B2139)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2023YFB3711300 and 2021YFF0500301)the Space Application System of China Manned Space Program(No.KJZ-YYWCL404)。
文摘Targeting Chang'E-8 mission'in-situ resource utilization(ISRU)for sustainable lunar habitats,laser powder bed fusion(LPBF)provides a viable pathway for in-situ additive manufacturing of lunar regolith.To elucidate mission relevant mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of LPBF fabricated lunar regolith simulants,mare type and highland type simulant specimens were produced.Microstructural characterization,mechanical test coupled with three-dimensional digital image correlation(3D-DIC),and an energy-dissipation framework were employed for comprehensive analysis.The pristine highland specimens achieved 5.79 MPa and a peak strain of 0.13(50 mm×50 mm×30 mm),significantly outperforming their mare counterparts.Wire-cutting to 20 mm×20 mm×20 mm lowered strength by~20%and peak strain to 0.04,indicating cutting-induced defects reduce ductility.All specimens displayed multipeaked stress–strain curves.3D-DIC revealed band-type strain localization in pristine highland samples,diffuse strain patterns in cut highland samples,and highly tortuous,network-type bands in mare samples;the anisotropy index was also quantified.Fragmented particles exhibited fractal dimensions ranging from 1.6 to 2.0(size 1.25–9 mm).Energy evolution progressed through three distinct stages:elastic energy storage,progressive energy dissipation delaying crack propagation,and final unstable collapse.An energy-based damage model was established and validated.The data and methods developed support Chang'E-8 missions'ISRU demonstrations and establish a transferable framework toward sustainable lunar habitats.
文摘The authors apologize for the erroneous transcription of the average chemical composition data of Apollo lunar soil samples in Table 4.The difference in chemical composition between lunar regolith simulants and actual lunar samples is an important indicator for evaluating their similarity.For comparison,Table 4 lists the chemical compositions of Apollo 12,Apollo 14,Apollo 15,Apollo 16,and other classic lunar regolith simulants.However,the Apollo lunar soil data in the original Table 4 contained errors,which have been corrected in this corrigendum.
文摘The giant impact hypothesis for the Moon's origin has had difficulty explaining the nearly identical isotopic compositions of Moon rocks and rocks from Earth's silicate mantle and crust.These similarities are instead more compatible with the Darwin-Wise hypothesis that the Moon arose by fission of a rapidly spinning Earth.To overcome problems with the fission model concerning structural stability and angular momentum conservation,some authors suggested that lunar fission was feasible on a more slowly rotating Earth if assisted by a nuclear explosion near the core-mantle boundary.In this light we consider the possible roles of the large low-velocity provinces(LLVPs).These long-lived structures have been implicated in diverse geophysical processes ranging from deep mantle plumes to continental breakup and mass extinction events.While the LLVPs have been seen as possible remnants of the giant imp actor,we propose that one of them was the site of lunar ejection.Internal heating of the liquid core is suggested to have given rise to an equatorial belt just under the core-mantle boundary analogous to the one recently detected by Ma and Tkalcic[Sci Adv 10(35):eadn5562,2024].Upwellings of heat and volatiles from this belt then generated two antipodal,equatorial bulges:the precursors of the Pacific and African LLVPs.Prior to the emergence of plate tectonics,core heat was mainly dissipated by networks of deep mantle plumes extending above the proto-LLVPs.These plume networks represent conduits of weakened mantle through which proto-lunar materials could later rise in a focused ejection.Continuing heat buildup in the core eventually triggered a cataclysmic explosion in the Pacific proto-LLVP,possibly analogous to a planetary-scale kimberlite eruption.This explosion launched LLVP and overlying mantle material into a low Earth orbit,where it coalesced to form the Moon.Some possible sources of additional energy to power the explosion are considered,including nuclear fission,bolide impacts and a hypothetical gravitational decay process culminating in a'A event'.
基金funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42441804,42403043,42273042,42303041,and U24A2008)Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS awards+5 种基金"From 0 to 1"Original Exploration Cultivation Project,Institute of Geochemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.DHSZZ2023.3)Bureau of Frontier Sciences and Basic Research,CAS,(Grant No.QYJ-2025-0103)Guizhou Provincial Foundation for Excellent Scholars Program(Grant No.GCC[2023]088)Provincial Key Research and Development(R&D)Plan Projects of Heilongjiang(Grant No.2024ZXDXB52)The Innovation and Development Fund of Science and Technology of Institute of Geochemistry,Chinese Academy of SciencesGuizhou Province Basic Research Program Project(QKHJC-ZK[2023]-General 473)。
文摘Nanophase iron particles(np-Fe^(0))have multiple formation mechanisms in lunar soil,which are mostly related to meteorite and micro meteorite impacts.Thermal modification of the impact is critical.Metal oxides have unique chemical and physical properties that allow np-Fe^(0) to form at a lower initial reaction temperature.Through the insitu heating experiment of ilmenite in the Chang'e-5 sample,it was found that ilmenite can form np-Fe^(0) at 400℃under high vacuum(10-6 Pa).This fills in the missing information on the lowest measured temperature at which ilmenite forms np-Fe^(0).At 400-800℃,only np-Fe^(0) and vesicles were formed without new Ti-rich minerals.At the same time,thermodynamic calculations showed that decomposition of ilmenite occurs in two stages.The experiments correspond to the initial stage of ilmenite thermal decomposition under high vacuum.The study explains the thermal decomposition reaction of ilmenite in a vacuum environment,provides a reference for the minimum measured temperature required for the formation of np-Fe^(0),and further improves the formation mechanism of np-Fe^(0).
基金Funded by the National 973 Programof China (No.2006CB701301) the Basic Research of Geomatics and Geodesy of the Key Laboratory of Geo-space Environment and Geodesy, Ministry of Education, China (No.03-04-10) .
文摘According to the history of lunar detection, the relationship between selenodesy and lunar detection is reviewed , and the focus of the lunar detection and the lunar detection plan of China are summarized. The key techniques of selenodesy are presented, and the applications of selenodesy to the lunar detection are discussed.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42241108, 42273040, 42473049, 42203047)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2024A1515011311)。
文摘INTRODUCTION The Chang'e-6 mission recently returned the first sample from the lunar farside. The sampling site was located on a flat basaltic maria that was emplaced at ~2.8 Ga in the Apollo Basin(Zhang Q W L et al., 2025;Cui et al., 2024), which formed in the northeastern portion of the South Pole-Aitken(SPA) Basin.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52404328,52274412,and 52374418)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2024M753248)。
文摘The rich resources and unique environment of the Moon make it an ideal location for human expansion and the utilization of extraterrestrial resources.Oxygen,crucial for supporting human life on the Moon,can be extracted from lunar regolith,which is highly rich in oxygen and contains polymetallic oxides.This oxygen and metal extraction can be achieved using existing metallurgical techniques.Furthermore,the ample reserves of water ice on the Moon offer another means for oxygen production.This paper offers a detailed overview of the leading technologies for achieving oxygen production on the Moon,drawing from an analysis of lunar resources and environmental conditions.It delves into the principles,processes,advantages,and drawbacks of water-ice electrolysis,two-step oxygen production from lunar regolith,and one-step oxygen production from lunar regolith.The two-step methods involve hydrogen reduction,carbothermal reduction,and hydrometallurgy,while the one-step methods encompass fluorination/chlorination,high-temperature decomposition,molten salt electrolysis,and molten regolith electrolysis(MOE).Following a thorough comparison of raw materials,equipment,technology,and economic viability,MOE is identified as the most promising approach for future in-situ oxygen production on the Moon.Considering the corrosion characteristics of molten lunar regolith at high temperatures,along with the Moon's low-gravity environment,the development of inexpensive and stable inert anodes and electrolysis devices that can easily collect oxygen is critical for promoting MOE technology on the Moon.This review significantly contributes to our understanding of in-situ oxygen production technologies on the Moon and supports upcoming lunar exploration initiatives.
基金supported by the National Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure Project“Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure”financially supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52275241)the Fund for National Key Laboratory of Space Environment and Matter Behaviors(No.2023059)。
文摘0 INTRODUCTION The lunar surface lacks an atmosphere and is continuously subjected to a combination of space weathering factors such as cosmic rays,solar wind,and micrometeorite impacts,forming a several-meter-thick lunar regolith(Sorokin et al.,2020).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12272141)。
文摘The autonomous navigation capabilities of the lunar roving vehicles(LRVs)rely on optical sensors.However,lunar dust emitted by the wheels diffuses around the rover and causing surface adsorption,threatening the performance of the optical detection system.This study delves into the distribution of dust emissions caused by rovers and their effects on the light transmission of optical sensors’lenses.A multiscale hierarchical discrete element method(MSH-DEM)incorporating ground experiments was adopted to analyze the dust emissions from LRVs,providing an assessment of dust deposition on sensor lenses under different driving conditions.Results show that the adsorption probability is close to 100%for particle sizes less than 10μm or collision velocities less than 1 m/s.After the LRV traveled forward at a speed of 10 km/h for 1 h,the light transmission of the sun sensor decreases by 5.29%,and that of the star sensor decreases by 1.88%.The two stereo cameras are minimally affected by the dust deposition.Left-steering conditions will increase the dust deposition on the stereo cameras and star sensors located on the right side of the LRV.Uphill conditions have a mitigating effect on lunar dust deposition,while downhill increases the dust deposition on the star sensor.These findings are crucial for assessing the potential impact of lunar dust on optical sensors and the accuracy of autonomous navigation.
基金The work was performed based on the research project no.2023/51/D/ST10/01956,financed by the National Science Center,Poland.
文摘The study presents the results of over 30,000 numerical analyses on the stability of lava tubes under lunar conditions.The research considered random irregularities in cave geometry and their impact on stability,with a particular focus on the geometric characteristics of identified collapses.We propose a procedure for extracting the collapse areas and integrating it into the stability analysis results.The results were examined to assess the possibility of describing the geometry characteristics of collapses using commonly applied probability density distributions,such as normal or lognormal distribution.Our aim is to facilitate future risk assessment of lunar caves.Such an assessment will be essential prior to robotically exploring caves beneath the lunar surface and can be extended to be used for planetary caves beyond the Moon.Our findings indicate that several collapse characteristics can be represented by unimodal probability density distributions,which could significantly simplify the candidate selection process.Based on our results,we also highlight several key directions for future research and suggested implications related to their future exploration.
基金supported by International Partnership Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.310GJH2024010GC)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52005479),China Building Materials Federation(Grant No.2023JBGS0401)+1 种基金Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2244111)Director’s Fund of Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization(Grant No.CAS T4035711XY)。
文摘The utilization of lunar resources is critical for the long-term sustainability of China's lunar exploration missions.In-situ manufacturing and construction using lunar regolith as the primary feedstock can provide essential support for establishing,operating,and maintaining lunar bases.This paper presents a comprehensive review of current lunar regolith forming technologies.These methods fall into two main categories,depending on whether Earth-based additives are required during the forming process.Direct forming technologies rely entirely on local materials and require minimal or no external input.In contrast,indirect forming technologies depend on additional binders or components transported from Earth.The advantages and limitations of each approach are analyzed across several dimensions,including technical principles,forming speed,forming precision,forming quality,environmental adaptability,energy consumption,and process simplicity.This paper evaluates the application potential of each method in two key lunar use cases:large-scale infrastructure construction and flexible manufacturing of fine-structured components.Based on this analysis,development trends and strategic recommendations are proposed to support the optimization and deployment of in-situ resource utilization-based lunar regolith forming technologies for diverse lunar surface applications.
基金funded by Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(20220101125JC)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12273079).
文摘Lunar Laser Ranging has extremely high requirements for the pointing accuracy of the telescopes used.To improve its pointing accuracy and solve the problem of insufficiently accurate telescope pointing correction achieved by tracking stars in the all-sky region,we propose a processing scheme to select larger-sized lunar craters near the Lunar Corner Cube Retroreflector as reference features for telescope pointing bias computation.Accurately determining the position of the craters in the images is crucial for calculating the pointing bias;therefore,we propose a method for accurately calculating the crater position based on lunar surface feature matching.This method uses matched feature points obtained from image feature matching,using a deep learning method to solve the image transformation matrix.The known position of a crater in a reference image is mapped using this matrix to calculate the crater position in the target image.We validate this method using craters near the Lunar Corner Cube Retroreflectors of Apollo 15 and Luna 17 and find that the calculated position of a crater on the target image falls on the center of the crater,even for image features with large distortion near the lunar limb.The maximum image matching error is approximately 1″,and the minimum is only 0.47″,which meets the pointing requirements of Lunar Laser Ranging.This method provides a new technical means for the high-precision pointing bias calculation of the Lunar Laser Ranging system.
文摘A key component of future lunar missions is the concept of in-situ resource utilization(ISRU),which involves the use of local resources to support human missions and reduce dependence on Earth-based supplies.This paper investigates the thermal processing capability of lunar regolith without the addition of binders,with a focus on large-scale applications for the construction of lunar habitats and infrastructure.The study used a simulant of lunar regolith found on the Schr?dinger Basin in the South Pole region.This regolith simulant consists of20 wt%basalt and 80 wt%anorthosite.Experiments were conducted using a high power CO_(2)laser to sinter and melt the regolith in a 80 mm diameter laser spot to evaluate the effectiveness of direct large area thermal processing.Results indicated that sintering begins at approximately 1180℃and reaches full melt at temperatures above 1360℃.Sintering experiments with this material revealed the formation of dense samples up to 11 mm thick,while melting experiments successfully produced larger samples by overlapping molten layers and additive manufacturing up to 50 mm thick.The energy efficiency of the sintering and melting processes was compared.The melting process was about 10 times more energy efficient than sintering in terms of material consolidation,demonstrating the promising potential of laser melting technologies of anorthosite-rich regolith for the production of structural elements.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2023YFB3711300,2021YFF0500300)Space Application System of China Manned Space ProgramStrategic Research and Consulting Project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering(Grant No.2023-JB-09-10)。
文摘Lunar in-situ construction using additive manufacturing(AM)technology has emerged as a critical pathway for sustainable extraterrestrial exploration.This review systematically evaluates two dominant AM paradigms for lunar regolith processing:low-temperature deposition forming(material extrusion and binder jetting),and high-energy beam additive manufacturing(powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition).Low-temperature methods achieve moderate compressive strength with low energy consumption but face challenges such as binder dependency and vacuum instability.By contrast,high-energy beam techniques enable binder-free fabrication with better compatibility for in-situ resource utilization,though they suffer from porosity,high energy intensity,and geometric limitations.In the context of lunar in-situ resource utilization(ISRU),low-temperature methods offer near-term feasibility for small-scale infrastructure,while high-energy approaches show promise for large-scale,autonomous construction by leveraging solar energy and raw regolith.Future advancements will hinge on hybrid systems that integrate material efficiency,energy sustainability,and robotic adaptability to overcome extreme environmental challenges.This review consolidates technological progress,identifies interdisciplinary synergies,and provides strategic insights into guiding the transition from Earth-dependent prototypes to self-sufficient lunar habitats,ultimately advancing the capability of humanity for a long-term extraterrestrial presence.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52225403,52434004,and 52404365)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2023YFF0615404)the Scientific Instrument Developing Project of Shenzhen University.
文摘Acquiring pristine deep lunar regolith cores with appropriate drilling tools is crucial for deciphering the lunar geological history.Conventional thick-walled drill bits are inherently limited in obtaining deep lunar regolith samples,whereas thin-walled coring bits offer a promising solution for lunar deep drilling.To support future lunar deep exploration missions,this study systematically investigates the failure mechanisms of lunar regolith induced by thin-walled drilling tools.Firstly,five thin-walled bit configurations were designed and evaluated based on drilling load,coring efficiency,and disturbance minimization,with Bit D demonstrating optimal overall performance.And the interaction mechanisms between differently configured coring bits and large-particle lunar regolith were elucidated.Coring experiments under critical drilling parameters revealed an operational window for the feed-to-rotation ratio(FRR of 2.0–2.5),effectively balancing drilling load and core recovery rate.Furthermore,a novel theoretical framework was developed to characterize dynamic drilling load parameters,supported by experimental validation.Based on these findings,practical strategies are proposed to mitigate drilling-induced disturbances,including parameter optimization and bit structural improvements.This research could provide valuable insights for designing advanced lunar deep drilling tools and developing drilling procedures.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52106276 and 52130601).
文摘Building a lunar human base is one of the important goals of human lunar exploration.This paper proposes a method for the production of oxygen by combining photothermal synergistic water decomposition with high-temperature carbon dioxide electrolysis,utilizing the full solar spectrum.The optimal oxygen production rates under different solid oxide electrolysis cell inlet temperatures T_(e),ultraviolet(UV)separation wavelengths λ_(2),infrared(IR)separation wavelengths,and photovoltaic cell materials were explored.The results indicate that the inlet temperature of the solid oxide electrolysis cell should be as high as possible so that more carbon dioxide can be converted into carbon monoxide and oxygen.Furthermore,when the ultraviolet separation wavelength is approximately 385 nm,the proportion of solar energy allocated to the photoreaction and electrolysis cell is optimal,and the oxygen production rate is highest at 2.754×10^(-4) mol/s.Moreover,the infrared separation wavelength should be increased as much as possible within the allowable range to increase the amount of solar radiation allocated to the electrolysis cell to improve the rate of oxygen generation.In addition,copper indium gallium selenide(CIGS)has a relatively large separation wavelength,which can result in a high oxygen production rate of 3.560×10^(-4) mol/s.The proposed integrated oxygen production method can provide a feasible solution for supplying oxygen to a lunar human base.
基金supported by a pre-research project on Civil Aerospace Technologies funded by CNSA(No.D020205)the Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42241156)+1 种基金the CUG outstanding youth team project(No.G1323523042)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund for Institute of Geology,CAGS(No.J1904)。
文摘NWA 6950 is a type of cumulate gabbro meteorite that displays features indicating a lunar origin.Specifically,the Fe/Mn values of olivines and pyroxenes in the meteorite suggest a lunar origin,as does the presence of Fe-Ni metal.The meteorite has also undergone intense shock metamorphism,which is evidenced by the presence of ringwoodite,tuite,and xieite(a type of chromite with a CaTi_(2)O_(4)structure)within the shock melt veins(SMVs).The texture,mineral modal abundances,and bulk compositions(measured from the SMVs)of NWA 6950 are similar to those of the NWA 773 clan,as are the concentrations and patterns of rare-earth-elements in olivine,pyroxene,plagioclase,and phosphate.In-situ U-Pb dating of baddeleyite and phosphate in NWA 6950 has determined its crystallization age to be 3133±11 and 3129±23 Ma,which is consistent with age data provided by Shaulis et al.(2017).Further,the chronology of the NWA 773 clan appears to be at least bimodal when considering the age of NWA 3333(3038±20 Ma;Merle et al.,2020).The tight range of ages for the NWA 773 clan at approximately 3.1 Ga coincides with a change in the eruption flux and style on the Moon.This suggests that lunar volcanism may have shifted from extrusivedominated to intrusive-dominated at approximately 3.1 Ga,resulting in the widespread distribution of gabbro lithologies on the Moon.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12172057 and 12032005).
文摘Landing spacecraft experience significant impact forces during landing,resulting in large deformation and failure in the soil surface,which severely affects landing safety and stability.This paper establishes a smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)model based on the theory of soil elastoplastic constitutive relations to describe the process of a lander’s footpad impacting lunar regolith vertically.The model can provide engineering indices such as impact load and penetration depth,and illustrate the large deformation and crater characteristics of the regolith.A detailed analysis of the response of the footpad and lunar regolith during landing reveals that the process can be broadly divided into two stages of rapid penetration and oscillatory attenuation.Furthermore,there are significant similarities in the landing process under different landing velocities and footpad masses.The research investigates the large deformation and crater characteristics of the lunar regolith bed.The results demonstrate two failure modes in the regolith.Under the impact of a footpad with a smaller mass,the final failure surface of the regolith exhibits a bowl-shaped profile with a uniformly open mouth.In contrast,under the impact of a footpad with a larger mass,the final failure surface of the regolith presents an urn-shaped profile with a large abdomen and a small opening.However,the impact craters in both scenarios show a bowl-like distribution.In cases of high-velocity impacts,the impact crater exhibits obvious blocky spalling on its sides.The SPH model developed in this study can be applied to predict the large deformation and failure response of lunar soil under the impact of rigid structures as well as the impact load and penetration depth.It effectively predicts the dynamic response of the landing process,which is expected to provide a reference for engineering design.
基金support from the China Postdoctoral Foundation(No.2024M753841)。
文摘As lunar exploration develops,lunar construction is increasingly prominent and the in-situ lunar regolith molding becomes a technical challenge.This study proposes a lunar regolith molding technology based on biocarbonated magnesium oxide(MgO)with urea pre-hydrolyzed,which has the potential to achieve an unconfined compressive strength(UCS)of approximately 10 MPa after 24 h of curing.The study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of biocarbonated lunar regolith samples with varying urea concentrations,bacterial concentrations,and MgO contents.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was employed to examine the microstructural properties of the samples.The results demonstrated that the maximum UCS and E_(50)were achieved at a urea concentration of 1.0 mol/L,a bacterial concentration of 1.0,and a MgO content of 15%.However,the carbonate content test indicated that the highest urea efficiency was observed at 10%MgO.Microscopic images show that the produced hydromagnesite is the most structured at the urea concentrations of 1.0 mol/L and 2.0 mol/L,corresponding well with the strength performance of the specimens.The pre-hydrolysis method can promote the efficiency of biocarbonated magnesium oxide but it highly depends on the concentration of the produced carbonate.Conclusively,the findings of this study offer a promising avenue for lunar regolith molding.
基金supported by International Partnership Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.310GJH2024010GC)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52005479)the China Building Materials Federation(Grant No.2023JBGS0401)。
文摘The utilization of lunar regolith for construction on the lunar surface presents a critical challenge in-situ resource utilization.This study proposes a lunar regolith manufacturing method that uses a high-performance resin binder characterized by a high regolith content and strong forming capabilities.A combined resin material with both thermosetting and photosetting properties was developed and mixed with lunar regolith to create a slurry.This slurry can be directly molded or additively extruded into green bodies with specific structures.These green bodies can self-cure under the high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation experienced during the lunar day,reducing energy consumption and fulfilling the requirements of lunar construction.The material-forming processes and effects of various additive types and concentrations,regolith mass ratios,and processing parameters on the properties of the slurry and the formed specimens were thoroughly investigated.The mechanical performance and microstructure of the fabricated samples were analyzed.The lunar regolith mass ratio reached 90 wt%(approximately 79 vol%),with the highest compressive strengths exceeding 60 MPa for cast specimens and 30 MPa for printed samples.This technology shows significant potential for enabling in-situ lunar regolith-based construction in future lunar missions.
