FORGE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR Jacob Hart , Aerospace Engineering Luka Arozqueta , Aerospace Engineering Ethan Cerniglia , Aerospace Engineering Garett Greve , Aerospace Engineering Jessica Martineau , Aerospace Engineering Nicholia Moody , Aerospace Engineering Ryan Raglin , Space Physics and Aerospace Engineering
MENTORS Siwei Fan , Aerospace Engineering Matthew Haslam , Humanities and Communication
With the increasing feasibility of lunar base construction and its increasing importance in future space operations, the ability to harvest, process, and fabricate building materials locally will be critical to reducing the cost of establishing permanent lunar infrastructure. The FORGE (Facility for On-surface Refining, Gathering, and Extraction) technology demonstrator aims to aid in this mission by in-taking, processing, and ultimately producing usable construction materials with the purpose of establishing lunar infrastructure prior to human arrival. Through a process known as Molten Regolith Electrolysis (MRE), key materials such as aluminum, silicon, iron, titanium, and magnesium can be collected by passing a current through molten regolith, using the compound as an electrolyte. In this project, the team aims to develop a trial platform that will be used to analyze the materials collected, specifically regarding the quality and distinction of separation between the materials. To prove that establishing a system like FORGE on the moon is possible, Team FORGE will complete two major tests. The results of these tests will be used as a proof of concept for the viability of induction furnace and MRE-based lunar on-surface refining. E-PRIZE AWARD
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