When setting up a lunar station, technologies for the use of locally available materials are crucial. Such technologies drastically reduce the need for transportation from Earth. This project idea aims to provide proof of a key technology, namely Mobile – Selective Laser Melting (M-SLM) for building large structures on the Moon. A mobile high power laser beam is directed on lunar regolith leading to its melting and after cooling to solid structures. In an independent study, we designed the MOONRISE payload up to an engineering model (EM).

The activity investigated a novel hybrid magnetic shielding system that uses both passive and active cancelation. The design and simulations used, along with the characterisation and measurements taken on the optimised system, are summarised in the executive summary report, and described in more detail in the Final Report. This activity was divided in two main work packages: study of optimisation and magnetic shield prototype.

Mass market receivers are currently basing the provision of position and navigation functionalities by using a number of different signals (GNSS as primary means of navigation, cellular network etc.). The introduction of Galileo and Assisted Galileo services in the mass market applications, will bring significant benefits to the users, especially for applications in harsh conditions and environments, like urban/suburban.

Lunar exploration has only started within the last few decades, and interest is continuing to grow. Space agencies and private investors are looking at the opportunities that it brings and see more commercial interest in it. According to a Euroconsult study, 51 missions to the Moon are planned in 2020–2029, compared to just seven in the previous decade, allowing us to better explore Earth's natural satellite and prepare for long-term lunar exploration and, in the future, deep space.

Background and justification:

A system is researched and developed to store water in its liquid state at temperatures below the freezing point using a passive unfreezing method. This is achieved by mixing it with phytantriol, a commercially available non-toxic, non-volatile, non-corrosive, non-inflammable lipid. Both, the scale up of the enrichment process from laboratory scales, and the separation of water from phytantriol, are demonstrated experimentally.