Abstract: An apparatus and method for on-site microwave consolidation of planetary regolith, soil and dust is disclosed. Such particulate materials may be converted into useful products such as roadways and other construction materials. In one embodiment, a portable microwave generator and waveguide system is used to generate and direct microwaves to a lunar surface containing fine iron-containing particles to sinter and/or melt the particles. The portable system may be provided in the form of a lunar paver with a single or multiple waveguides arranged to direct sufficient microwave energy to the lunar surface to heat, sinter, melt, or otherwise consolidate the lunar soil into a solid mass suitable for use as a road or path. Other applications of this in-situ microwave heating process include the release of solar-wind implanted gases, extraction of polar water-ice, and production of oxygen.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 25, 2010
Assignees:
Tranquility Base Incorporated, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Inventors:
Lawrence August Taylor, Donghwa Shin Taylor, Richard Franklin Perez, Michael A. DiGiuseppe