A strut-and-node truss design that is applicable to space frame structure designs can be assembled with using robotic (semi-autonomous and/or fully autonomous) or telerobotic assembly/joining. The assembly system can include a storage module that includes the components for assembly and an assembly module that can retrieve and assembly the components. The resulting truss structure can be connected to an antenna (e.g., carried by the storage module) for deployment. The assembly module can be operated repeatedly in conjunction with additional resupply systems that provide additional components for assembly.

A strut-and-node truss design that is applicable to space frame structure designs can be assembled with using robotic (semi-autonomous and/or fully autonomous) or telerobotic assembly/joining. The assembly system can include a storage module that includes the components for assembly and an assembly module that can retrieve and assembly the components. The resulting truss structure can be connected to an antenna (e.g., carried by the storage module) for deployment. The assembly module can be operated repeatedly in conjunction with additional resupply systems that provide additional components for assembly.

A process for manufacturing a polybenzoxazine monomer, crosslinking the latter, and using the crosslinked product to form an ablative thermal protection system for a thruster nozzle or atmospheric reentry body.

A process for manufacturing a polybenzoxazine monomer, crosslinking the latter, and using the crosslinked product to form an ablative thermal protection system for a thruster nozzle or atmospheric reentry body.

A closed-loop, bioregenerative water purification system including a gravity-independent anaerobic membrane bioreactor capable of operating in the presence and absence of gravity, the bioreactor including an anaerobic bioreactor, a first membrane filtration unit, and a second membrane filtration unit, wherein the anaerobic bioreactor is configured to receive organic waste and hygiene water as inputs and break them down into constituent components using anaerobic microbes, wherein the first membrane filtration unit is configured to receive effluent output from the anaerobic bioreactor, return concentrate to the anaerobic bioreactor, and output permeate to the second membrane filtration unit, and wherein the second membrane filtration unit is configured to receive the permeate output from the first membrane filtration unit, separate biogas from the permeate, and output nutrient-rich water.

A refinery spacecraft comprises a hub section defining a longitudinal axis, an excavator segment to convey material into the hub section, first, second and third rotary ring segments rotatable about the hub section with adjustable speed and direction, each rotary ring segments comprising three modules configured to carry out refining or storage processes and wherein two of the three modules in each rotary ring segment have adjustable angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis. Methods of collecting and refining substances from an asteroid, derelict orbiting spacecraft or other space junk, can comprise attaching a refining spacecraft to an asteroid, extracting material from the asteroid, transferring material into a refining hub, transferring material to refining rings orbiting the refining hub, and controlling orbiting of the refining rings about the hub to establish and maintain angular momentum of the refining spacecraft at a stable condition.

An apparatus, system and method are provided for launching, deploying and moving mobility platforms used to produce a three-dimensional product using additive printing. The product, or object, is made by collecting materials in-situ at an off-Earth celestial body. A sintering apparatus, such as a laser, is used to consolidate the planetary regrowth into a solid object. The apparatus can receive power, and can apply heat to assist in the consolidation process. The apparatus is moveable to the build site, and includes a print head having a collector for receiving collected materials, a conditioner for sintering and heating the collected materials, and an extruder, specifically a slip form opening in which the materials can be dispersed over the surface of the extraterrestrial body where the powder form of the conditioned materials are sintered, fused, or consolidated into a hard solid bead of material.

Disclosed are a method of flying on the moon and a device for flying using the method. A medium on a surface of a moon and a medium accelerating module are used in the flying method. The medium is transferred into the medium accelerating module, accelerated by the medium accelerating module, and ejected out of the medium accelerating module by using a power supply. A counterforce is generated in accordance with the momentum conservation, and the counterforce overcomes the lunar gravity and drives a load to take off. The method is suitable for the environment of the moon where flight by means of atmospheric buoyancy is impossible due to the shortage of atmosphere.

Systems and methods are disclosed for mining lunar and Martian polar permafrost to extract gas propellants. The method can comprise identifying a plurality of near-polar landing sites in craters in which the surface comprises permafrost in perpetual darkness, wherein such landing sites have perpetual sunlight available at altitudes of about 100 to 200 m. A mining outpost can be established in at least one of the sites and a high altitude solar array deployed at the landing site using a lightweight mast tall enough to generate near continuous power for the outpost. Systems and apparatus are disclosed for mining the permafrost at the landing sites using radiant gas dynamic mining procedures. The systems can comprise a rover vehicle with an integrated large area dome for cryotrapping gases released from the surface and multi-wavelength radiant heating systems to provide adjustable heating as a function of depth.

Systems and methods are disclosed for mining lunar and Martian polar permafrost to extract gas propellants. The method can comprise identifying a plurality of near-polar landing sites in craters in which the surface comprises permafrost in perpetual darkness, wherein such landing sites have perpetual sunlight available at altitudes of about 100 to 200 m. A mining outpost can be established in at least one of the sites and a high altitude solar array deployed at the landing site using a lightweight mast tall enough to generate near continuous power for the outpost. Systems and apparatus are disclosed for mining the permafrost at the landing sites using radiant gas dynamic mining procedures. The systems can comprise a rover vehicle with an integrated large area dome for cryotrapping gases released from the surface and multi-wavelength radiant heating systems to provide adjustable heating as a function of depth.