Induction Heating of Lunar Regolith

ENGINEERING LAB INTERN | Astroport Space Technologies

I worked under a NASA SBIR contract to develop a technology demonstrator for constructing a lunar landing/launch pad. I researched the mechanical and thermal properties of induction-heated lunar regolith simulant CSM-LHT-1. The goal of my study was to sinter the powdered simulant into a single-structure brick strong enough to carry vehicles. Forming the most optimal heat-treated product relied on finding the best combination of heating time, temperature, and power while staying within mission budget constraints, all while minimizing porosity and maximizing the strength of the brick. Understanding the relationship between chemical composition, temperature, time, and the degree of the material’s transformation, I developed new experimental approaches considering the effects of melting, sintering, and annealing on the product’s quality.

My unique melting method produced bricks 54% stronger than the launch pad concrete at NASA Kennedy Space Center. Data evaluation also revealed a common failure mode among the samples, which directed the team’s effort to optimize the shape of the bricks. My work led to a first-author conference publication at the Texas Area Planetary Science Conference organized by the Lunar and Planetary Institute.