Methods and systems for depositing a deposition material on a substrate in a space environment may include a substrate support structure on a surface of a planetary body in the space environment, a depositor for the deposition material, an energy source associated with the depositor to excite the deposition material to form a vapor of the deposition, and a moveable elongate member associated with the depositor, to move the depositor over the substrate, whereby the vapor of deposition material from the depositor may pass over the substrate and flow to the substrate to coat the substrate with the deposition material.

Methods and systems for depositing a deposition material on a substrate in a space environment may include a substrate support structure on a surface of a planetary body in the space environment, a depositor for the deposition material, an energy source associated with the depositor to excite the deposition material to form a vapor of the deposition, and a moveable elongate member associated with the depositor, to move the depositor over the substrate, whereby the vapor of deposition material from the depositor may pass over the substrate and flow to the substrate to coat the substrate with the deposition material.

The system extracts water from lunar regolith and includes a regolith intake having a digging bucket that collects lunar regolith soil and a gravel separator that separates and discharges gravel and passes a mixture of ice-regolith powder having ice grains that are about 10-100 microns along the conveyor. A pneumatic separator receives the ice-regolith powder and pneumatically splits the ice-regolith powder into streams of different sized lithic fragments and ice particles per the ratio of inertial force and aerodynamic drag force of the lithic fragments and ice particles. Each split stream may include a magnetic separator that separates further the magnetic and paramagnetic lithic fragments from ice particles to discharge up to 80 percent of lithic fragments to slag.

The system extracts water from lunar regolith and includes a regolith intake having a digging bucket that collects lunar regolith soil and a gravel separator that separates and discharges gravel and passes a mixture of ice-regolith powder having ice grains that are about 10-100 microns along the conveyor. A pneumatic separator receives the ice-regolith powder and pneumatically splits the ice-regolith powder into streams of different sized lithic fragments and ice particles per the ratio of inertial force and aerodynamic drag force of the lithic fragments and ice particles. Each split stream may include a magnetic separator that separates further the magnetic and paramagnetic lithic fragments from ice particles to discharge up to 80 percent of lithic fragments to slag.

An immobility system for a free-fall environment includes an immobility device including at least one suction cup configured to engage the immobility device to a surface, and a valve that, when activated, results in release of the at least one suction cup from engagement with the surface. A remote controller is spaced apart from the valve and is configured to selectably transmit an activation signal to the valve. An immobility device includes at least one suction cup configured to engage the immobility device to a surface, and a valve that, when activated, results in release of the at least one suction cup from engagement with the surface. A receiver at the device is configured to receive an activation signal and activate the valve.

Tram systems for space vehicles are disclosed. When the space vehicle is a nested ring cell, for example, the structural ring portion of the design may be mostly or completely passive and contain conducting parts, such as electrical steel. The moving trams may use field coils instead of magnets to generate the magnetic flux to propel the tram. Additional coils on the tram may steer the magnetic flux to generate the forward or reverse thrust forces. These coils may also add the overall motive flux.

Tram systems for space vehicles are disclosed. When the space vehicle is a nested ring cell, for example, the structural ring portion of the design may be mostly or completely passive and contain conducting parts, such as electrical steel. The moving trams may use field coils instead of magnets to generate the magnetic flux to propel the tram. Additional coils on the tram may steer the magnetic flux to generate the forward or reverse thrust forces. These coils may also add the overall motive flux.

An attitude control module is described for providing propellant-free attitude control and momentum desaturation to a spacecraft. The attitude control module includes at least one solar sail comprising a reflective surface for reflecting solar photons; and at least one robotic arm coupled to the at least one solar sail, said at least one robotic arm comprising at least 4 degrees of freedom for positioning and orienting the at least one solar sail relative to the spacecraft. A corresponding method for operating the attitude control module to unload excess momentum from a spacecraft is also described.

The system extracts water from lunar regolith and includes a regolith intake having a digging bucket that collects lunar regolith soil and a gravel separator that separates and discharges gravel and passes a mixture of ice-regolith powder having ice grains that are about 10-100 microns along the conveyor. A pneumatic separator receives the ice-regolith powder and pneumatically splits the ice-regolith powder into streams of different sized lithic fragments and ice particles per the ratio of inertial force and aerodynamic drag force of the lithic fragments and ice particles. Each split stream may include a magnetic separator that separates further the magnetic and paramagnetic lithic fragments from ice particles to discharge up to 80 percent of lithic fragments to slag.

The system extracts water from lunar regolith and includes a regolith intake having a digging bucket that collects lunar regolith soil and a gravel separator that separates and discharges gravel and passes a mixture of ice-regolith powder having ice grains that are about 10-100 microns along the conveyor. A pneumatic separator receives the ice-regolith powder and pneumatically splits the ice-regolith powder into streams of different sized lithic fragments and ice particles per the ratio of inertial force and aerodynamic drag force of the lithic fragments and ice particles. Each split stream may include a magnetic separator that separates further the magnetic and paramagnetic lithic fragments from ice particles to discharge up to 80 percent of lithic fragments to slag.