Granular Materials in Space Exploration

This symposium will focus on the science and engineering of granular materials in space exploration. When we visit a planetary body, we land on granular materials, drive on them, dig in them, extract resources from them, build with them, and study them for science. Because granular materials can rearrange on a mesoscopic scale, their emergent behaviors are difficult to predict and are the subject of intensive research by physicists, engineers, geologists, and other disciplines. Research includes experiments, computer modeling, and collection of data from planetary missions. Technologies are being developed to study granular materials on the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and beyond. Sessions in this symposium will focus on lunar regolith and dust, asteroid regolith, soil mechanics, granular flow, rocket exhaust interactions with regolith, and anything that requires or supports our understanding of granular materials in space.

Symposium Chairs:

Chris Dreyer

Colorado School of Mines, CO, USA

cdreyer@mines.edu

Joseph Anthony

University of Leeds, UK

s.j.anthony@leeds.ac.uk

Topics:

• The Physics of Regolith: Mechanics, Heat, and Volatiles

• Regolith Simulants

• Instruments and Methods to Measure Regolith Mechanics

• Modeling Methods for Regolith

• Rocket Exhaust Interactions with Regolith

• Trafficability of Regolith: Designing Rovers to Not Get Stuck

• Particulate Processes under Low Gravity Environments Granular Mechanics

(Please see keywords at the bottom of this page to determine if this symposia is right for your submission)

Keywords:

• Anchoring in soils

• Cratering

• Exhaust plume effects

• Granular flows

• Geotechnical property measurement and prediction

• Knowledge gaps and how to fill them

• New findings on specific solar system soils

• Terramechanics in space

Exploration and Utilization of Extra-Terrestrial Bodies

This symposium will focus on methodologies, techniques, instruments, concepts, missions and system level designs associated with exploration and utilization of Solar System bodies, with emphasis on the Moon, Mars, Ocean Worlds, and Asteroids. The topic covers both robotic and human exploration. Many of the various types of civil, geological, mining, chemical and materials engineering fields are needed to sustain space exploration and space commercialization. The topic also covers legal and ethical aspects of space exploration and space mining.

Standard practices will have to be adapted, and new practices will have to be developed, to be able to rely on the natural resources of near-Earth asteroids, the Moon, and Mars to sustain human and robotic activities in space. Engineering systems and economics concepts, as well as mechanical, robotic, and structural engineering solutions are needed as well. While there is always room for robust and innovative new concepts, the testing, refining, and more testing of previously proposed concepts are especially sought.

Symposium Chairs:

Rob Mueller

NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

rob.mueller@nasa.gov

Kris Zacny

Honeybee Robotics

kzacny@blueorgin.com

Topics:

• • Robotic Mobility, Navigation and Enabling Technologies

  • Technologies and Approaches to Planetary Drilling and Sampling

  • In Situ Resource Utilization

  • Space Construction, Habitats and Structures

  • Planetary Drilling and Mining

  • Space Mining

  • Mission Concepts: Resource Prospecting, Instruments and Enabling Technologies

  • Past, Present, and Future missions to the Moon and other planetary bodies

(Please see keywords at the bottom of this page to determine if this symposia is right for your submission)

Keywords:

• • Economic geology of space

  • New equipment concepts

  • Orbital dynamics for mine planning and scheduling

  • Sample handling and processing technologies

  • Low gravity anchoring devices and techniques

  • Space commercialization, policy and law

  • Drilling and melting

  • Mining and processing automation

  • Equipment and system capability definition

  • Planetary drilling and regolith excavation

  • Planetary drilling and regolith excavation

  • Planetary mechanisms driven by electro-active actuation materials

  • Surface stabilization

  • Space transportation systems

  • Landers and hoppers

  • Physical and numerical testing

  • Regolith operations

  • Mobility and robotics systems

  • Dust mitigation

  • Life support systems

  • Surface habitation systems

Advanced Materials and Designs for Aerospace and Terrestrial Structures under Extreme Environments 

New techniques in experimental, computational, and analytical mechanics are expanding the understanding of the behavior of composite, smart, and other materials with applications to aerospace structures and other terrestrial structures under extreme environmental conditions. Exciting combinations of fundamental studies and practical applications by government and industry are expanding the design and analysis capabilities for aerospace structures as well as terrestrial structures to be used in extreme environments. Recent advances and studies on materials and structures as well as their design aspects in terrestrial aviation and space applications and related structures are particularly solicited.

Symposium Chairs:

Nick Zhou

University of Tennessee, TN, USA

hzhou8@utk.edu

Yunlan "Emma" Zhang

University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA

yunlan.zhang@austin.utexas.edu

Justin Littell, Ph.D.

NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

justin.d.littell@nasa.gov

Topics:

• Ballistic Impact and Crashworthiness of Aerospace Structures;

• Design and Construction in Extreme Terrestrial Environments

• Coastal Resilience Under Extreme Weather Conditions

• Energy Efficient Structures and Habitats

• Advanced and Alternative Cementitious Materials

• Composite Materials for Aerospace

• Materials and Structures for Extraterrestrial Environmental Extremes

• Architected Materials for Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Structural Applications

• Materials, Mechanisms and Structures for In-space Manufacturing

(Please see keywords at the bottom of this page to determine if this symposia is right for your submission)

Keywords:

• Novel materials and structures

• Extreme service environment

• Computational and experimental mechanics

• Additive manufacturing/construction (3D printing)

• Safety and resilience

• Impact and crashworthiness

• Architected and bioinspired materials and structures

• Composite materials for aerospace

• Cementitious materials

• Structures and materials for extreme environments

• Advanced numerical methods

• Additive manufacturing

• Coastal resilience

• Terrestrial extreme environments – design and construction

• Extraterrestrial environmental extremes

• Energy efficient structures

• Flexible and architected materials

• Lattice structures

• Origami and kirigami

• Topology

Structures in Challenging Environments: Dynamics,

Controls, Smart Structures, Health Monitoring and Sensors

The technical areas of dynamics, controls, and evaluation and condition monitoring of engineering structures and systems, specially designed and built to operate in challenging environments on Earth and space, are of extreme importance. Integration of sensors into structural and material systems enables more effective and precisely tuned performance, as well as remote evaluation and control of space and terrestrial structures systems. The design and analysis of structures in challenging environments on any planetary body need special care beyond current terrestrial practice. Space environments – on planetary surfaces or in orbit – expose systems to radiation, micro/reduced gravity, vacuum, debris/meteoroid impact, and temperature extremes. Overcoming these significant challenges is imperative to the success of any structure in space and extreme and challenging environments on Earth. With the recent development in artificial intelligence (AI) and human-machine interactions, AI and machine learning-based methods have been widely applied for complex engineering systems and structures in challenging environments in terms of modeling, monitoring, and controlling. In addition, educators face challenges in using emerging technology to improve the education of the engineers of the future in the challenging future environment either in space or on the Earth. 

Symposium Chairs:

Wei Zhang

University of Connecticut, CT, USA

wzhang@uconn.edu

Lucas Laughery

Exponent, TX, USA

llaughery@exponent.com 

Christian Malaga Chuquitaype

Imperial College London, UK

c.malaga@imperial.ac.uk

Topics:

• Tensegrity Structures – Concepts and Applications 

• Structures under Extreme Environments: Theory and Applications

• Specialized Sensors-based Structural Damage Detection and Health Monitoring

• Advanced Concepts on Renewable and Green Energy Harvesting

• Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Earth and Space Systems

(Please see keywords at the bottom of this page to determine if this symposia is right for your submission)

Keywords:

• Smart and intelligent structures

• Dynamics and controls

• Structural vibration control via active and semi-active approaches

• Innovative techniques/methodologies of design and analysis of structures

• Other special topics related to dynamics, controls, intelligent/smart structures, and sensors

• Shape memory alloy actuators

• Modeling of intelligent structures

• Nanomaterial-based and biologically inspired sensors, actuators, and structures

• Structures in extreme environments on Earth, Moon, Mars, and in space

• Structural health and condition monitoring

• Fiber optic, piezeoelectric, and shape memory alloy-based sensors

• Tracking and control of structures in challenging environments

• Remote experiments

• AI applications of modeling, evaluation, and control of structures in extreme natural environments

• Civil infrastructure resilience and recovery during or after extreme environmental conditions.

Space Engineering, Construction, and Architecture for Moon, Mars, and Beyond

There have been increased activities and interests in space activities, especially lunar and Martian exploration by the public and private sectors alike. Many national and international agencies and space industry are currently involved in the planned lunar missions. The United States Space Policy Directive 1 directs NASA to focus on lunar exploration with a new human return to the Moon and then crewed/human missions to Mars. These efforts will involve both robotic and human missions.

NASA has released “Moon to Mars Strategy and Objectives Development- A blueprint for sustained human presence and exploration throughout the Solar System” in 2022.   Moon and Mars NASA program includes ARTEMIS missions and building of the GATEWAY.  NASA’s  2022 Architecture Concept Review details plans for early human exploration of the Moon’s South Pole. It provides more definition for plans through Artemis IV and sets the stage for the first crewed mission to Mars. NASA has also identified 13 candidate landing regions near the lunar South Pole of the Moon as it prepares to send astronauts back to the Moon under its Artemis program.  The successful launch of  Artemis I in November 2022, upcoming US robotic landings planned under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, and recent successful and attempted spacecraft landings on the moon by several other countries worldwide are opening up a new chapter in lunar exploration with plans by several space actors for humans to follow in the mid to late 2020’s.

As the world’s space community prepares to return to the Moon with humans, this time to stay, explore and then settle elsewhere in the Solar System on a long-term basis, it is imperative that we continue to support the development of qualified engineering, construction and architecture concepts and guidance for these developments. On Earth, multiple new spaceports have been constructed with modernized methods and operations, providing new insights into enhanced operational efficiencies.  With the successful mission of  Artemis I and hardware for Artemis II and III in production and assembly, the need for off-world civil engineering and construction capabilities is becoming more real This symposium deals with innovative concepts, methods, designs, research, development, and applications related to all aspects of human space exploration, architecture, engineering and construction, including structures, infrastructure, and facilities in orbit and on planetary surfaces such as the Moon, Mars, moons of Mars and asteroids.

Symposium Co-Chairs:

Ramesh Malla

University of Connecticut, CT, USA

ramesh.malla@uconn.edu

Alexander Jablonski

Canadian Space Agency, Retired, Ottawa, Canada

alexstarza@gmail.com

Gerald Sanders

NASA Johnson Space Center, TX, USA

gerald.b.sanders@nasa.gov

Melissa Sampson

     Orbit Fab, Inc., CO, USA

      melissa.sampson@orbitfab.com

Special Session Topics:

1. Innovative Engineering and Construction on the Moon and Mars Utilizing and Harnessing Indigenous Geo-Environmental (In-situ) Resources

2. Environmental Requirements for Planetary Systems including Moon and Mars

3. Design and Analysis of Habitat Structures and Facilities on the Moon and Mars

4. Architecture on the Moon and Mars: Designing for Human Space Exploration

5. Structural morphology for space structures on the Moon, Mars and other extreme environments

6. Lunar and Martian Habitats: Design Considerations and Construction Challenges

7. Deployable and Inflatable Structures: Applications for Space and Planetary Environments

8. Engineering Concepts for Resilient Deep Space (Lunar and Martian) Habitats

9. Lunar and Martian Habitat Infrastructure Environmental Control and Life Support System Planning and Design

10. Lunar and Martian Geotechnics and Foundation Design

11. Engineering & Construction of Lunar and Martian Infrastructure Utilizing In-Situ Materials

12. Innovative Construction Techniques for Lunar and Martian Environments

13. Robotics Development for Lunar and Martian Constructions

14. 3D Printing Applications for Lunar and Martian Construction

15. Manufacturing, Development, and Modeling for ISRU-oriented Infrastructure Materials and Construction Technologies on the Moon and Mars

16. Building Information Modeling (BIM): digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of space facilities

17. Lunar Power Components, Infrastructure, and Architectures

18. Terrestrial, Lunar, and Martian Spaceports – Landing and Launching Pads and Supporting Infrastructure

19. Robotic Construction and Outfitting Advancements to Support Functional Buildings and Infrastructure in Earth, Moon and Beyond

20. Civil Engineering to Achieve NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture Objectives

21. Others/General Topics: Papers related to Symposium 5 on all other topics not listed above

(Please see the descriptions of the special topics sessions listed above after the List of Keywords section below.)

Keywords: 

• 3D Automated Additive Construction (e.g. 3-D Printing) for human habitats in space and extraplanetary surfaces, especially using local materials

• Assembly integration and test requirements for Human Exploration Space Systems

• Lunar and Martian infrastructure development

• Cis-lunar engineering, construction, and operation

• Innovative techniques/methodologies of design and analysis of structures

• Cis-lunar engineering, construction, and operation

• Design, analysis, and construction of human habitats, structural facilities and bases on Moon and Mars

• Design considerations and construction challenges for lunar and Martian habitats

• Effects of harsh and extreme planetary environments on built systems

• Robotic construction and outfitting

• Inflatable and deployable structures for planetary habitable structures

• In-situ resource utilization related to surface infrastructure

• Lessons learned from extreme terrestrial engineering e.g. Antarctica, Arctic, Siberia, Deserts, deep sea, off-shore, etc.

• Lessons learned from recent new terrestrial spaceport construction and activation activities

• Modular hard structures orbital and surface habitats

• NASA’s Lunar Gateway station and NextSTEP habitat projects

• Novel space life support systems with AEC integration

• O’Neill Cylinder concepts for human habitation in space

• Robotics development for lunar and Martian construction and excavations

• Resilient extraterrestrial habitats

• Space environmental control and life support system

• Space architecture on the Moon and Mars and in zero-G environments

• Lunar/space power, surface, architecture, distribution, power grid

• Space and planetary surface human transportation systems

• Technical requirements for lunar and Martian human exploration systems

• Building information modeling (BIM), digital representation of physical and functional characteristic space facilities:

• Terrestrial, Lunar and Martian spaceport facilities/Landing & Launching pads: requirements, design, development and construction

• Virtual reality as a design tool

• Construction techniques for lunar and Martian environments

• Other relevant topics dealing with architecture, engineering, and construction for human space exploration

Special Session Descriptions:

 1. Innovative Engineering and Construction on the Moon and Mars Utilizing and Harnessing Indigenous Geo-Environmental (In-situ) Resources
Session Organizer(s): Gerald (Jerry) B. Sanders, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX (E-mail: gerald.b.sanders@nasa.gov); and Aleksandra Radlinska, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (E-mail: azr172@psu.edu)

It has been long realized that long term sustainable human settlements on the Moon and Mars are only possible if the local geological and environmental resources can be utilized substantially for day to day operation. Several studies can be found dealing with the use of lunar and Martian regolith for various purposes, including habitat building material, protection against radiation and extreme temperatures, extracting oxygen, and mining. However, in-depth and exhaustive studies on the use of regolith for engineering and construction is still lacking. Moreover, new innovative methodologies for design, engineering and construction need to be developed that exclusively harness and utilize indigenous geological and environmental resources. For example, the extremely hot and cold environment on the lunar surface may someday pave a path for new engineering innovation and technologies. It might even be possible to tap the everlasting radiation on the lunar surface for certain engineering and construction purpose. How about the low gravity and vacuum that exist on the moon? These may be leveraged to come up with new and innovative design and construction technologies. This session presents papers on various aspects of innovative engineering, construction, development, and operations utilizing and harnessing local geo & environmental resources available on the Moon and Mars.

2. Environmental Requirements for Planetary Systems including Moon and Mars
Session Organizer(s): Alexander M. Jablonski, Ph.D., Canadian Space Agency (Retired)/Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada (E-mail: alexstarza@gmail.com) and Robert Anderson, Ph.D., NASA JPL,  Pasadena, CA, USA (E-mail: robert.c.anderson@jpl.nasa.gov  )

This session focusses on the impact of environmental requirements on space systems for planetary missions, including lunar and Martian missions. Both the Moon and Mars have very challenging natural environments within our solar systems. They include high vacuum, high diurnal temperature variations, ultra-cold temperatures in the permanently shadowed regions, abundance of very fine and abrasive dust, a reduced gravity field, the effects of moonquakes and Marsquakes, the danger of micrometeoroid impacts, the duration of the day, and variation of the specifics for individual celestial body. A detailed knowledge of the planetary environmental conditions is crucial for defining the technical requirements for planetary systems (including lunar and Martian systems). This session covers the technical requirements associated with each mission phase, including ground processing, storage, transportation, launch, cruise, orbit insertion and EDL (Entry, Descent and Landing), and finally surface operation on a given celestial body. This session also covers the impact of the planetary environmental conditions on ground-based qualification requirements and test methodologies to maintain reliability and ensure survivability of space hardware operating on planetary surfaces, at both assembly/subsystem and system levels.

 3. Design and Analysis of Habitat Structures and Facilities on the Moon and Mars
Session Organizer(s): Ramesh B. Malla, Ph.D., F. ASCE, F. EMI, A.F. AIAA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT ( E-mail: Ramesh.Malla@uconn.edu )

This session aims to explore novel and practical approach to design and analysis techniques for various pressurized and unpressurized structures for human habitat and utilities to be built on the lunar and Martian surfaces. We will explore short-term, medium-term, and long-term missions with specific goals.  Short-term goals include Shelters, launching pads, sortie missions, possible short surface stay (type 1 pressurized structures). Medium term goals will focus on transitional period from short term to longer term goals, including infrastructure for utilities distribution, equipment storage, power generation and distribution, launch pads facilities, etc. with an eye towards campus zoning to help with transitioning to continuous occupancy, (sometimes referred to as type 1 and 2 pressurized structures combined). Long-term goals structures are related to permanent human surface presence (sometimes referred to as type 1, 2 and 3 pressurized structures), along with additional infrastructure for supporting all required operational and habitation needs.  The topics can include, but not limited to the following type of  structures: truss/frame, monolithic, tensegrity, inflatable, and all other innovative/practical structures The design/analysis techniques should account for the extreme environments that exist on the moon and Mars, e.g., extreme temperature, lack of atmosphere, radiation, meteoroid impact, low gravity, seismic ground movement, to name a few.

 4. Architecture on the Moon and Mars: Designing for Human Space Exploration
Session Organizer(s): Olga Bannova, PhD, Lic.Eng., SICSA, University of Houston, Houston, TX (E-mail: obannova@central.uh.edu).

Responding to current plans of world space agencies to accomplish a manned mission to the Moon and Mars during next decades, this session will focus on design strategies, structural analysis and construction techniques of Moon and Mars surface architecture for human exploration and habitation. Designing a structure on an extraterrestrial surface presents several challenges: internal pressurization, reduced gravity, protection from high-velocity micrometeoroid impacts, radiation and severe Lunar/Martian temperature cycles, safety factors and reliability as well as ease of construction, which must be major components for space structures as they are for significant Earth structures. In addition, an effective space habitat or settlement design needs to comply with human factors and operational requirements. Such challenges call for creative integrated design strategies that address environmental and operational challenges and optimize architectural, structural and fabrication requirements.

 5. Structural morphology for space structures on the Moon, Mars and other extreme environments
Session Organizer(s): Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, Ph.D., University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (E-Mail: Landolfrb@miami.edu); and Ju hong Park, Ph.D., POSTECH, Pohang, Korea (E-mail: juhpark@postech.ac.kr)

Structural morphology refers to the study of form and shape in structures as well as the relations between form, forces, and material. The session will focus on the relations between form, forces, and materials in structures and systems with applications in challenging environments and space exploration. Topics such as form finding, structural design, optimization, hybrid structural systems, active/deployable/smart structures, new materials and their application for structures as well as fabrication techniques are of special interest. Due to the high cost of transporting resources off of Earth’s surface, new design, control, and fabrication strategies will have to be developed, to be able to rely on the in-situ resources of near-Earth asteroids, the Moon, and Mars to sustain human and robotic activities in space.

 6. Lunar and Martian Habitats: Design Considerations and Construction Challenges
Session Organizer(s): Sudarshan Krishnan, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL (E-mail: skrishnn@illinois.edu).

This session will provide the technical knowledge and guidance related to habitat planning and design in extreme environments of Moon and Mars. The talks will highlight the architectural and structural engineering challenges in the design of Lunar and Martian habitats. The papers will address design issues for zero-gravity and planetary surfaces, spatial planning, material and system selection, and structural design. Accompanying topics may include mechanical aspects related to deployment and construction methods such as 3D printing.

 7. Deployable Structures and Inflatable: Applications for Space and Planetary Environments
Session Organizer(s): Ramesh B. Malla, Ph.D., F. ASCE, F. EMI, A.F. AIAA, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (E-mail: Ramesh.Malla@uconn.edu); and Othman Oudghiri-Idrissi, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin, TX (E-mail: othman.oudghiriidrissi@austin.utexas.edu)

With manned space flight missions increasing in duration to return to the Moon, and Mars, habitable volume in spacecraft and planetary structures for performing work, living, and storage for supplies must increase as well. Inflatable and deployable structures have the potential to provide the needed habitable volumes with fewer rocket launches over traditional structures. This special session will focus on design and analysis these  soft good habitat structures and both the benefits and technical challenges they provide for manned space flight and planetary environments. This topic would include: materials, construction, deployment, testing and verification, launch packing, radiation protection, simulations, damage protection and repair, terrestrial analogues, planetary resource utilization in relation to inflatable and deployable structures.

8.  Engineering Concepts for Resilient Deep Space (Lunar and Martian) Habitats
Session Organizer(s):   Jibu Abraham, JHU – Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD (E-mail: Jibu.Abraham@jhuapl.edu); and Sushrut Vaidya, Ph.D., University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (E-mail: Sushrut.Vaidya@uconn.edu )

The evolution of space exploration will eventually lead to extraterrestrial settlement. Beyond the protection of Earth’s atmosphere, future human settlements face new threats stemming from the lack of air pressure, extreme temperature fluctuations, meteorite impacts, high-energy galactic cosmic rays, and solar particle events. Countering these challenges and designing sustainable, long-term human settlements to provide livable conditions in Space require the highest applications of engineering and technology. This special session deals with innovative concepts, methods, designs, research, development, and applications related to achieving resilient Mars and lunar habitats.

 9. Lunar and Martian Habitat Infrastructure Environmental Control and Life Support System Planning and Design

Session Organizer(s): Juan H. Agui, Ph.D., NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH (E-mail:  juan.h.agui@nasa.gov) and William O’Hara, Blue Origin, Kent, WA (E-mail: wohara@blueorigin.com)

The session will present novel and practical research, development, design and analysis of environmental control, life support systems and related requirements geared toward human habitats and infrastructure on the moon, Mars and in cis-lunar space.  Presentation topics solicited for the session, include but not limited to the following:  air and water circulation system, pressure and thermal control,  heating, cooling, ventilation,  filtration, plumbing,  piping network, electric/wiring network, oxygen generation, water Processing and recovery, waste management,  lighting and power distribution, and dust and radiation mitigation,

 10. Lunar and Martian Geotechnics and Foundation Design

Session organizer(s): Pooneh Maghoul, Ph.D., M. ASCE, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal (QC), Canada (E-mail: pooneh.maghoul@polymtl.ca); and Roberto de Moraes, M. ASCE, AECOM, Oakland, CA (E-mail: roberto.demoraes@aecom.com)

The special section caters to engineers and researchers who are involved or interested in various geotechnical and foundation engineering aspects of infrastructure on the Moon and Mars.   The session will cover the fundamental principles of soil mechanics and foundation design in low-gravity conditions. The focus will be on the important considerations to be taken into account in designing foundations for different lunar infrastructures, such as launching/landing pads, roads, lunar habitats, and solar power towers. It will delve into the practical aspects of geotechnical design, which include site investigation, field testing using geophysics and geology rovers equipped with geotechnical investigation tools, slope stability, excavation, and geotechnical seismic design. Additionally, there will be case studies presented that reflect the latest advances in knowledge.

 11. Engineering & Construction of Lunar and Martian Infrastructure Utilizing In-Situ Materials
Session Organizer(s): Melodie Yashar, AlterCall, Inc. Los Angeles, CA (E-mail: melodieyashar@gmail.com); and Evan Jensen, ICON Technology Inc., Austin, TX. (E-mail: evan@iconbuild.com)

In efforts to establish a permanent human settlement on the Moon and eventually Mars, durable, self‐maintaining, and resilient surface infrastructure is theorized to be constructed in robotic precursor missions prior to a crew’s arrival. Robotic construction will be used within planetary applications to develop a wide range of surface site infrastructure including: landing pads, rocket engine blast protection berms, roads, dust free zones, equipment shelters, and of course human habitats and radiation shelters. Multiple sheltering aspects will be needed for early settlements to reliably protect crews against radiation, micro‐meteoroids, and provide exhaust plume protection during subsequent rocket launches. In this session, unique aspects of engineering, construction techniques and strategies, design, and operations are explored relative to various surface infrastructure and construction elements anticipated within Lunar and Martian operations.

12. Innovative Construction Techniques for Lunar and Martian Environments

Session Organizer(s): Ramiro Besada, Aff. M. ASCE,   Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO (E-mail: rabesada@burnsmcd.com)

“Out of the world” problems demand “out of the world” solutions. This special session deals with ground-breaking methods and innovative designs in extra-terrestrial construction. Papers are solicited on topics ranging from excavation and mining techniques; robotics/automated construction, maintenance and repair; infrastructure construction, assembly and advanced process monitoring ideas pertaining, but not limited to, human habitats, temporary structures, and infrastructure on the harsh lunar environments of low gravity, vacuum, radiation exposure, and extreme temperature. The session will encompass novel contribution to experimental, analytical, and computational techniques, including real-time automated construction operation analysis, construction simulation and informatics, data visualization and virtual reality, construction management, advancement in real-time monitoring and resource optimization, modular construction, lean construction, 3d printing and artificial intelligence in construction as well as material, sustainability and safety applicable to Lunar and Martian surfaces

 13. Robotics Development for Lunar and Martian Constructions

Session Organizer(s):  Krzysztof Skonieczny, Ph.D., Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (E-mail: krzysztof.skonieczny@concordia.ca) 

The recent literature review has clearly shown the great deal of focus on robotics development in variety of applications, including construction repair, and maintenance in the harsh space environments, in orbit and on the lunar and Martian surfaces. Robotics design, development or building is a not trivial, and often goes through many iterations to get it right, especially in the harsh, extreme and previously untested conditions that exist in space. Leveraging simulations should make this process easier to deal with as the simulation makes it possible to cut down the number of design, build and test iterations. Simulation can enable new applications and allow testing before building any physical model. Once design is finalized, less physical testing can be used to confirm the intended functioning of the robots. This special session deals with robotics development and application for space engineering and construction, especially on lunar and Martian environment. Papers dealing with various topics in these areas are solicited.

14. 3D Printing Applications for Lunar and Martian Construction

Session Organizer(s): Nathan Gelino, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island,  FL (E-mail: Nathan.j.Gelino@nasa.gov)

In the recent efforts to enable a long-term presence on Moon, Mars, or other planets, the research community has explored the innovative concepts using 3D printing to enable the extraterrestrial human habitat, structural facilities, life support systems, etc. The 3D printing has gained popularity due to many potential advantages, e.g., inherent effectiveness of leveraging the indigenous soil for the space radiation shielding, the minimized transportation of construction resources from Earth. Furthermore, the 3D printing began to be adopted for developing the synthetic particles to experimentally study / simulate the geotechnical behavior of extraterrestrial soils in the laboratory. This special session will provide a forum for the state of knowledge on the broad topics pertaining to the recent innovations in 3D printing applications targeted at Lunar and Martian construction.

15. Manufacturing, Development, and Modeling for ISRU-oriented Infrastructure Materials and Construction Technologies on the Moon and Mars

Session Organizer(s): Yong-Rak Kim, Ph.D., P.E., F. EMI, F.ASCE, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (E-mail: yong-rak.kim@tamu.edu);  Xijun Shi, Ph.D., P.E., Texas State University, San Marcos, TX (E-mail: xijun.shi@txstate.edu); Hyu Shin, Ph.D., Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, South Korea (E-mail: hyushin@kict.re.kr)

The world’s ambition to establish sustained space operations faces a grand challenge primarily due to the dissimilar environmental conditions and resource scarcity in comparison to Earth. This imposes severe constraints on producing viable construction materials and structural components for infrastructure such as landing/launch pads, power towers, radiation shields, roads, berms, and ultimately pressurized habitats. Densification of Lunar and Martian regolith is one of the first and core missions to achieve the goal. Considering the scarcity of resources available on the Moon and Mars, many efforts have aimed to develop ISRU (in-situ resource utilization) – oriented technologies to produce construction materials and obtain site information for supporting self-sufficient, sustainable, autonomous, and affordable Lunar and Martian infrastructure and/or human habitation structures. In particular, various recent studies have focused on manufacturing methods, physical-mechanical testing, computational modeling, 3D printing, and machine learning to develop innovative regolith solidification-construction methods that can be implemented into Lunar and Martian construction. Such a grand challenge requires team science that synergizes civil engineering, construction, materials science, physics, geology, data science, robotics, computer science, etc. This session presents papers on recent innovative manufacturing, development, and modeling updates for ISRU-oriented infrastructure materials and construction technologies on the Moon and Mars. In addition, perspectives, challenges, and future direction to the higher TRL (technology readiness level) technologies will be discussed.

16. Building Information Modeling (BIM): digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of space facilities

Session Organizer(s):  Aaron T. Hill, Jr. Ph.D., P.E., PMP, F.ASCE ; United States Military Academy, West Point, NY (E-mail: aaron.hill@westpoint.edu ); and Peter Carrato,Ph.D. F.ASCE, Bechtel Corporation, Reston, VA (E-mail: pcarrato@bechtel.com)

BIM use refers to the goal of delivering any multi-dimensional computer model. The BIM uses for this special session include Habitat Modeling, Site Layout Planning, Construction Equipment, Indigenous feedstocks, 3D-Printer and Autonomous Feeding System (Equipment) Flow and Virtual Prototyping. (3D BIM) Habitat Modeling – the metadata integrated model used to depict an accurate representation of physical conditions, printing environment, and assets of the facility. (4D BIM) Construction Sequencing – the model used to graphically represent both permanent and temporary facilities on site during multiple phases of the construction process. (4D BIM) Equipment and Material Flow – the model used to demonstrate the movements of construction methods including, but not limited to 3D-printers, material handling, and all autonomous systems on site. (4D BIM) Virtual Mockup – the model used to design and analyze the construction of the facility components to improve their planning and constructability.

17. Lunar Power Components, Infrastructure, and Architectures

Session Organizer(s):  Melissa Sampson,  Ph.D., Orbital Fab, Inc., Denver, Lafayette, CO.  (E-mail: melissa.sampson@orbitfab.com)

Power is essential to human and scientific exploration of the Moon. It is part of the NASA’s Moon to Mars objectives and is an exciting area of innovation and technological advancement. The session will include the planning, design, analysis, and construction of power generation, storage, and distribution infrastructure and architectures, e.g. tall lunar solar tower, cable/transmission towers, other power generation sources, and distribution utilities.

 18. Terrestrial, Lunar, and Martian Spaceports – Landing and Launching Pads and Supporting Infrastructure

Session Organizer(s): Jennifer Edmunson, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville AL (E-mail: jennifer.e.edmunson@nasa.gov) and Mike Fiske, Jacobs Space Exploration Group, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville AL (E-mail: michael.r.fiske@nasa.gov)

In recent years there has been significant activity in the construction of terrestrial spaceports to support the launch and landing of space transportation vehicles, both in the USA and worldwide. The impetus for this renaissance in spaceport construction has been the entry of new actors into the space launch and landing business. Commercial entities and government entities are introducing new transportation systems with increased life cycle efficiencies, incorporating the lessons learned from the past 60 years of spaceport operations. Reusability and reduced cost have become new drivers in the spaceport design and operations. Small launch vehicles for small satellite constellations need efficient and routine launching capabilities. The military is seeking a rapid response capability. Spaceports are also expanding beyond the Earth’s surface to the Moon and Mars, where spaceports must also be constructed to support reusability and in-situ re-fueling. Lessons learned from spaceport terrestrial construction can be applied to these new extreme environments with innovative engineering and operations. Papers are sought that will communicate the construction project sequences, experiences and lessons learned from recent spaceport construction and which will identify technology advancements achieved and also those that are likely to be required in the future. This session presents papers dealing with all engineering and technical aspects of spacecraft launching and landing pad and supporting facilities including development, planning design, analysis, construction, operations, maintenance, and lesion learned.

 19. Robotic Construction and Outfitting Advancements to Support Functional Buildings and Infrastructure in Earth, Moon and Beyond

Session Organizer(s): Naveen Kumar Muthumanickam, Ph.D., M.ASCE, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), Golden, CO (E-Mail: naveenkumar.muthumanickam@nrel.gov) .

Robotic construction techniques such as 3D Printing/additive construction of enclosures using concrete and other cementitious materials has been gaining momentum in both terrestrial and extra‐terrestrial applications. Such innovations are sought after for their speed, safety and material waste reduction benefits and have got ample research and development support from stakeholders from academia and industry alike. However, buildings and infrastructure such as pressurized habitats, unpressurized storage structures, lunar launch and landing pads, power generation towers and other infrastructures go beyond just enclosures and need to cater to a range of technical/functional requirements (optimal design performance, optimal indoor environmental quality for various use cases, etc.). This requires integration of numerous components specific to a variety of building systems such structural (rebars, trusses), mechanical (ducts and air handling equipment), electrical (power generation, storage and distribution components), plumbing (filtration devices, storage devices and distribution pipes) and other allied services. Integration of such systems is critical to enable optimal functioning of the buildings and infrastructure. Robotics for integration or outfitting of buildings and infrastructure with such complex systems is still an underexplored and nascent area of research. New innovative methods and techniques for modular design of building systems and components that can be transported as payloads from Earth, in‐space manufacturing of such building components in the long term to reduce payloads from Earth, tele‐robotically operated or autonomous robotic construction methods to assemble/integrate these components into buildings are needed. This session presents papers on advancements in robotic construction and assembly techniques for complex systems integration in terrestrial construction and its application in extra‐terrestrial construction use cases.

20. Civil Engineering to Achieve NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture Objectives
Session Organizer(s):   Robert W. Moses, Ph.D., Tamer Space, LLC, Poquoson, VA (E-mail:  robert.moses@tamerspace.com); and  Robert P. Mueller, NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL (E-mail:  Rob.Mueller@nasa.gov)

NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture (https://www.nasa.gov/MoonToMarsArchitecture) provides for long-term habitation by astronauts on the lunar and Martian surfaces.  These long-term stays will require use of indigenous resources and surface construction to create infrastructure that shelter the astronauts from space environments and enable transportation of logistics and crew mobility.  This session is intended to present and discuss opportunities for the civil engineering community to offer solutions and enablers for achieving NASA’s objectives for infrastructure and logistics for long-term habitation and permanent presence on the Moon and Mars.