Mastodawn

A 90-day #Mars 🔴 transit is technically feasible using chemical propulsion capabilities - specifically, the SpaceX #Starship. This markedly shorter transit time has the potential to reduce #radiation ☢️ exposure, minimize microgravity-related #health risks, and lower the logistical burdens of prolonged spaceflight. #ISRU remains an outstanding concern that #SpaceX / #NASA must address before human 🧑‍🚀 missions can take place https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-00565-7

#University #Science #MarsColonization

3 months transit time to Mars for human missions using SpaceX Starship - Scientific Reports

Historically, spacecraft have followed trajectories that took between six and nine months to reach Mars, using traditional chemical propulsion on roughly Hohmann transfers. It is commonly believed that advances in propulsion technology, such as nuclear thermal or VASIMR, are necessary to reduce that transit time. In this paper, we show the feasibility of transit to Mars using the SpaceX Starship taking 90 days. We outline two trajectories that reduce each transit to between 90 and 104 days each way. These trajectories are within NASA career radiation limits, while 180-day trajectories are not.

Nature

Daniel Suarez Apr 13

💥 E-BOOK DEAL For the love of space, don't miss this deal! *CRITICAL MASS (sequel to Delta-V) is now $1.99 for a limited time only!

*Typically retails for $14.99

#spacethriller #HardSF #cislunar #ISRU

Javi🌍(ハビ)Apr 8

ISRU, In-Situ Resource Utilization

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery_and_Preparation/Off-Earth_manufacturing_using_local_resources_to_build_a_new_home

#ISRU #ESA #Space #SpaceExploration

Off-Earth manufacturing: using local resources to build a new home

Humanity is heading back to the Moon, and this time, we're planning to stay. But for long-term space missions, astronauts would need infrastructure to live and work, to move around, to communicate with Earth, and to produce oxygen and water vital for survival.Taking all this infrastructure from Earth would likely be prohibitively expensive. Instead, we need to figure out how to make it on site. ESA Discovery & Preparation has supported many studies to explore how we can do this.

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Spaceflight 🚀Mar 25

Researchers at the #Ohio State #University proposed using a specialized laser-based #3Dprinting method to turn lunar regolith into hardened building material. This technology could also lead to resilient #habitats that will enable a long-term human presence on the #Moon, #Mars, and beyond 🪐 https://spectrum.ieee.org/lunar-base-3d-printing

#ISRU #MoonBase #Artemis #NASA

Laser 3D Printing Could Build Lunar Base Structures

Researchers at The Ohio State University propose laser 3D printing for durable lunar structures made of moon rocks.

IEEE Spectrum

Spaceflight 🚀Mar 4

RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/116165844472175049

#Astrolab is developing a larger rover that can accommodate about 3 cubic meters of payload. The excavating 🪏 equipment would go under the belly of the rover. It is likely that a #FLEX rover will be on the first #SpaceX #Starship mission planned to fly to the Moon 🌙 in 2027 or 2028

#SpaceMining #ISRU

AlcorNews Jan 26

L’ESA imagine nourrir les astronautes autrement : avec HOBI-WAN, la bouffe devient techno spatiale. Futur proche ou délire ? ESA
https://www.ouest-france.fr/sciences/espace/avec-le-projet-hobi-wan-lagence-spatiale-europeenne-image-la-nourriture-du-futur-7fc0f588-f9dc-11f0-b811-0d74e2b6bed2
#Space #Science #Innovation #Astrophysics #AerospaceEngineering #SpaceFood #ISRU

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enoch_exe_inc Dec 17

So what? So, #ElonMusk (amongst others) have talked about colonising Mars, but not once has this subject come up. Neither has any thought been put into the sustainability of the endeavour, into #ISRU technologies or the fact light lag complicates communications.

In other words, he hasn’t seriously thought about it, but he’ll say whatever if it gets him investors and US government contracts.

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Spaceflight 🚀Nov 2, 2025

The #ZEUS #SBSP #satellite constellation is designed to harness #solar ☀️ power and transmit it wirelessly to the lunar base. It will enable the continuous operation of #ISRU facilities at the lunar🌙 South Pole https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009457652500270X

#wireless #power #transfer #IRS #SpaceSystems #University #Stuttgart

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Spaceflight 🚀Oct 25, 2025

Extracting lunar water ice 🧊 profitably requires deploying at least 20 tons of mining equipment to the surface. Even with #SpaceX’s #Starship potentially dropping costs to $10 million per ton, you’re looking at $200 million just for equipment delivery.
The future of lunar mining ⚒️ : remote operators control trucks, #AI optimizes drill patterns. #Robotic systems handle materials in environments humans rarely enter https://spacenews.com/the-lunar-mining-gold-rush-is-coming-and-success-requires-bridging-two-worlds

#SpaceMining #ISRU