Artist's impression of a solar-powered robot mining machine on the surface of the Moon. This is a design for a robot that would collect rocks rich in
Artist's impression of a solar-powered robot mining machine on the surface of the Moon. This is a design for a robot that would collect rocks rich in Helium 3 (He-3), a potential fuel for nuclear fusion power stations. In addition to providing power for motion, the solar generators would provide the heat needed to release He-3 from the rocks, and to cool it to liquid for storage. The process of obtaining He-3 would also enable the retrieval of significant quantities of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide which could be put to use elsewhere in the Lunar Station. The He-3 comes from the Sun via the Solar Wind.
Size: 4707px × 3789px
Photo credit: © UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN CENTER FOR SPACE AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 3, base, colonisation, colonizaton, colony, fuel, fusion, helium, industrialisation, industrialization, lunar, manned, mining, moon, power, production, robot, space
