Inactive

The MMPACT project will focus on the utilization of lunar in-situ materials for the manufacturing construction of large-scale infrastructure elements like habitats, berms, landing pads, blast shields,... The MMPACT project will focus on the utilization of lunar in-situ materials for the manufacturing construction of large-scale infrastructure elements like habitats, berms, landing pads, blast shields, walkways, floors, storage facilities, and roads using one or both of two techniques. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center intends to award a sole source contract with RW Bruce Associates LLC. The Contractor will provide services to NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA-MSFC) for the design, fabrication and implementation of a microwave heating device for the sintering/densification of lunar regolith simulant. This is to include the initial based system (Phase I) as well as the pre-flight prototype (Phase II). It is anticipated that after these design phases, that the Contractor will be engaged in similar activities for a flight-ready system (Phase III) that will be integrated into flyable platform. In the initial base system, develop a WR-284 waveguide component to carry out preliminary heating experiments. The components will consist of two down-tapered waveguides to be used in conjunction with other waveguide components to complete a microwave heating system to study the heating of lunar regolith simulant and delivered within 5 days of contract award. Using established microwave design techniques, determine the necessary components and specification to construct the initial Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) industrial system, which consists of a Microwave Generator, Magnetron, Waveguides, Isolator, Power Monitor, EH Turner and Applicator. Research and develop sensors/sensing electronics. It is anticipated that several electrical quantities (voltage and current in the power supply, forward and reflected microwave power) will need to be recorded and evaluated in order to determine the efficiency of power application to the regolith. Development of electronic circuitry to vary the power level. This should be on a continuous basis and not the standard microwave oven practice in which the magnetron on time is varied to give an average value of power (time-averaged). This is compared to the desired method in which the magnetron is on continuously but at different power levels. Generate, coordinate and evaluate COMSOL models and designs. Simulations are based on three criteria: A straight waveguide (WR-340 or WR-430) with internal ridges to help improve matching; A waveguide horn with end dimensions greater than WR-340 or WR-430 that may or may not have internal ridges; AND A slotted waveguide in either WR-340 or WR-430. Evaluate the effect of microwave horn shape, dimensions and distance, using COMSOL Multiphysics FEA software, from the regolith surface, numerical analysis of the microwave intensity and temperature distribution in the regolith.