Performance Analysis of a Drilling System for Lunar Resource Extraction Mounted on a Lunar Exploration Rover

초록

Obtaining and supplying oxygen and hydrogen for the space program are es-sential to continue space exploration from the existing icy soil on the Moon. As reported, the moon including icy water on the surface is the only planet near earth will provide the required resources as known In-Situ Resource Uti-lization (ISRU). In this study, we evaluated the performance of a drilling system that can be mounted on a lunar exploration rover for icy water ex-traction and its efficiency. To achieve this, we used a test environment chamber capable of replicating low-pressure and low-temperature conditions like the harsh environment on the Moon. The system was tested under vari-ous operational conditions to analyze its performance in these extreme envi-ronments. The test conditions were set to simulate the harsh lunar environ-ment, focusing on low temperature. Key metrics such as time required to drill to specified depths in simulant soil, efficient regolith removal, power con-sumption, and drilling speed were used to evaluate the system. The system's responses to different conditions were measured to determine the optimal operational range for maximum performance. This study provides valuable data that can enhance the reliability and efficiency of the rover's drilling sys-tem for future lunar exploration missions, contributing to the development of practical exploration technologies.