KREEP| Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Sample!

Project Details

The Challenge | Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Sample!

You are the astronaut/robotic mission lead tasked with bringing valuable specimens from the Moon back to Earth for further study. How will you evaluate lunar samples quickly and effectively before or while still on the mission? How will you differentiate samples of potential scientific value from less interesting material?

Detection

Investigation and analysis of natural pyroelectric Materials for Energy Production on Moon

Electricity production utilizing microscopic analysis of pyroelectric materials on the moon

Electricity production could be one of the most important tasks on the moon to perform applications such as heat, water and oxygen production, charging robot’s battery and so on. Accordingly, one can say producing energy even at very little amounts can make a big difference. The problem, however, rises when electricity production unlike earth, can be a sophisticated mission on the moon. To accomplish this problem, we are going to introduce a probable solution in which utilizing pyroelectric materials is proposed.

Materials with pyroelectric property

Pyroelectricity can be described as the ability of certain materials to generate a temporary voltage when they are heated or cooled. The change in temperature modifies the positions of the atoms slightly within the crystal structure, such that the polarization of the material changes. GaN, SiO2, and other materials like tourmaline can be used for this aim. Fortunately, based on previous research on the composition of the materials on the moon, finding these materials is so probable out of there. The temperature between days and nights (approximately 250°C) on the moon acts as the initiation energy.

Approaches to Materials' detection

To perform a fast and efficient detection of above-mentioned materials using fast techniques is crucial. As an instantaneous method within moving of rover some techniques are proposed: CheMin instrument which is including of XRD and XRF methods is a good candidate for material analysis. Another suggestion is using Raman Spectroscopy. Using this technique provides a very fast method to detect our desirable minerals; for example, detection of GaN and B which is main element in tourmaline composition.

Achievements and Conclusion

Being able to produce energy on moon can make a big difference. Achievements like improving lifespan of the rover, saving astronauts’ time and producing energy for oxygen and hydrogen production and so on are consequences of our proposal.