The project that NASA is undertaking these days is known. It will work in conjunction with the U.S. government. The result is a fundraising to extract lunar regolith and water from lunar ice. One of the stages of the project is an oxygen pipeline to the Moon.
With this idea, they intend to use the oxygen in life support systems for human consumption. It would also be used as an oxidizer for launch vehicles coming from the Moon. And even create a system that can be used in other projects. Such as the Artemis mission.
Oxygen on demand
“What are the current funded efforts for in situ oxygen extraction? We are thinking about bottling oxygen in compressed gas tanks. Or liquefying it and storing it in dewars. Either approach requires transporting tanks or dewars to various facilities for use.” That’s part of the statement NASA detailed.
Meanwhile, another project raised studies the possibility of making a lunar South Pole oxygen pipeline. It is planned for the NIAC project in PHASE I.
The goal of this device is to help explore and evaluate multiple of system architectures to generate a lunar pipeline. With this innovative infrastructure they hope to solve one of the major problems of lunar exploration: supplying oxygen.
New face of the Moon
The results of a preliminary analysis were evaluated. Based on these, the creation of a five-kilometer gas pipeline was proposed. It will serve to transport gaseous oxygen from a source of O2 (Dioxygen) production. It will reach a storage plant. It is called L-SPOP or ‘Oxygen Pipeline’.
“We plan to explore and evaluate multiple system architectures for a lunar pipeline. We will identify enabling and enhancing technologies. From a comprehensive roadmap, we will develop this innovative infrastructure,” NASA said.
Perhaps, very soon the lunar surface will have another face. And an oxygen pipeline to the Moon will be part of its physiognomy.
