Thermal Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulants
Open accessAbstract
Various high temperature chemical processes have been developed to extract oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. These processes are tested using terrestrial analogues of the regolith. But all practical terrestrial analogs contain H2O and/or OH–, the presence of which has substantial impact on important system behaviors. We have undertaken studies of lunar regolith simulants to determine the limits of the simulants to validate key components for human survivability during sustained presence on the moon. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) yields information on phase transitions and melting temperatures. Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis provides information on evolved gas species and their evolution temperature profiles. The DTA and TGA studies included JSC-1A fine, NU-LHT-2M and its proposed feedstocks: anorthosite; dunite; HQ (high quality) glass and the norite from which HQ glass is produced. As an example, the DTA and TGA profiles for anorthosite follow. The DTA indicates exothermic transitions at 355 and 490°C and endothermic transitions at 970 and 1235°C. Below the 355°C transition, water is lost accounting for approximately 0.1% mass loss due to water removal. Just above 490°C a second type of water is lost, presumably bound in lattices of secondary minerals along with other volatile oxides. Limited TGA-FTIR data is available at the time of this writing. For JSC-1A fine, the TGA-FTIR indicates at least two kinds of water…
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MRE operates above 1300°C, processes unrefined regolith to produce oxygen and a mixed metal alloy, and faces challenges in material durability and power demands.
“MRE, operating above 1300 • C, processes unrefined regolith to produce oxygen and a mixed metal alloy, though it faces challenges in material durability and power demands.”
From A review and analysis of extraction methods for aluminum and oxygen from Lunar Regolith (2026) · cites this paper as Street et al. 2010
MRE forgoes the use of an external electrolyte and electrolyzes the bulk regolith melt directly at high temperatures, typically operating above the melting point of regolith simulants (≈1300°C).
“MRE, on the other hand, forgoes the use of an external electrolyte and electrolyzes the bulk regolith melt directly at high temperatures, typically operating above the melting point of regolith simulants (≈1300 • C) (Street et al. 2010;Liu et al. 2025).”
From A review and analysis of extraction methods for aluminum and oxygen from Lunar Regolith (2026) · cites this paper as Street et al. 2010
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A review and analysis of extraction methods for aluminum and oxygen from Lunar Regolith
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- Authors
- Street, Jr., Ray, C., Rickman, D., & Scheiman, D. A.
- Affiliations
- NASA-Glenn Research Center, MS 23-2, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44070.
- Marshall Space Flight Center (US)
- Venue
- Earth and Space 2010
- Publisher
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Published
- 2010-03-11
- Pages
- 266-275
- OpenAlex
- W2064929152
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.70
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- ASCE International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments (Earth and Space) (publishedVersion)
- NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Space Exploration and Technology
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- lunar regolith simulant, JSC-1A, anorthosite, dunite, norite, water loss, phase transitions, melting point, evolved gas analysis, CO2 evolution, secondary carbonates, in-situ resource utilization
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