Consideration for the Utilization of In-Situ Resources in Life Support Systems on the Moon

Materials from the Moon can play a major role in life support systems designed for operation on the lunar surface. Uses include oxygen and nitrogen for atmospheric makeup, hydrogen (and water), carbon and, potentially, minor and trace elements for the food chain, and construction materials for the extension of habitable and work volumes. The basic consideration that must be met is that the mass of the extraction and production system required to produce a particular material must be less than the total amount of the material to be produced by the system over its operational lifetime. Once that criterion has been met, improvements may be found in a systems integration of the many areas in which the indigenous resources might be utilized.