Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications
Recently, the goal of space exploration has shifted from the incognito of the solar system to the Moon. Concepts like human permanence on the Moon and thermal protective structures made with ISRU (in situ resource utilization) of raw materials have started to be implemented. By limiting the need to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Materials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/5797 |
| _version_ | 1797582278486917120 |
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| author | Laura Borella Andrea Rozo Claire Perfetti Carlo Saverio Iorio |
| author_facet | Laura Borella Andrea Rozo Claire Perfetti Carlo Saverio Iorio |
| author_sort | Laura Borella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, the goal of space exploration has shifted from the incognito of the solar system to the Moon. Concepts like human permanence on the Moon and thermal protective structures made with ISRU (in situ resource utilization) of raw materials have started to be implemented. By limiting the need to launch supplies from the Earth, the paradigm of spaceflight is changed, privileging the vanguard of the utilisation of resources in situ. Still, the main challenges of surviving the radiation dose and the cryogenic temperatures of the lunar night remain. Recent studies have demonstrated how innovative composite materials can help reduce the temperature stress on exploration vehicles. This research presents the material properties of aerogel insulating materials combined with LHS (lunar highlands simulant) regolith obtained by freeze frying. Organic-based aerogels with different percentages of LHS have been analysed in terms of material, morphology, and thermal properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:19:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be12f9bdfaa9448d8f5e9cfb0461e619 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:19:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-be12f9bdfaa9448d8f5e9cfb0461e6192023-11-19T08:26:03ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-08-011617579710.3390/ma16175797Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space ApplicationsLaura Borella0Andrea Rozo1Claire Perfetti2Carlo Saverio Iorio3Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumCentre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumCentre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumCentre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumRecently, the goal of space exploration has shifted from the incognito of the solar system to the Moon. Concepts like human permanence on the Moon and thermal protective structures made with ISRU (in situ resource utilization) of raw materials have started to be implemented. By limiting the need to launch supplies from the Earth, the paradigm of spaceflight is changed, privileging the vanguard of the utilisation of resources in situ. Still, the main challenges of surviving the radiation dose and the cryogenic temperatures of the lunar night remain. Recent studies have demonstrated how innovative composite materials can help reduce the temperature stress on exploration vehicles. This research presents the material properties of aerogel insulating materials combined with LHS (lunar highlands simulant) regolith obtained by freeze frying. Organic-based aerogels with different percentages of LHS have been analysed in terms of material, morphology, and thermal properties.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/5797Moonaerogelslunar nightspace insulatorsISRUlunar regolith |
| spellingShingle | Laura Borella Andrea Rozo Claire Perfetti Carlo Saverio Iorio Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications Materials Moon aerogels lunar night space insulators ISRU lunar regolith |
| title | Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications |
| title_full | Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications |
| title_short | Characterization of Composite Freeze-Dried Aerogels with Simulant Lunar Regolith for Space Applications |
| title_sort | characterization of composite freeze dried aerogels with simulant lunar regolith for space applications |
| topic | Moon aerogels lunar night space insulators ISRU lunar regolith |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/5797 |
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