RocketM: A Propulsive Excavation System for the Moon and Mars

NASA’s return to the Moon with the Artemis Program is expected to stimulate a cislunar economy focused around in situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities. Lunar regolith and subsurface water ice are two key resources within this ecosystem, and lunar explorers will need systems to excavate and transport these materials across the surface of the Moon. Astrobotic is developing the RocketM system (Resource Ore Concentrator using Kinetic Energy Targeted Mining) a concept designed for efficient extraction of surface and subsurface material on non-terrestrial planetary bodies. A dome is sealed to the regolith surface, creating a volume that holds pressure, and a small rocket thruster within the collection dome fires into the regolith to liberate the material. Test results demonstrate that RocketM can excavate 3.9 times more ice than propellant expended in the excavation process. Additionally, a portion of the extracted ice could also be processed to replenish propellants for the RocketM system.