US 11,725,513 B2
Systems and methods for radiant gas dynamic mining of permafrost for propellant extraction
Joel C. Sercel, Lake View Terrace, CA (US); Anthony Price Longman, Castle Rock, CO (US); and James G. Small, Sonoita, AZ (US)
Assigned to Trans Astronautica Corporation, Lake View Terrace, CA (US)
Filed by Trans Astronautica Corporation, Lake View Terrace, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/450,444.
Application 17/450,444 is a continuation of application No. 16/534,321, filed on Aug. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,143,026.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/715,741, filed on Aug. 7, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0082019 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. E21C 51/00 (2006.01); E21C 37/16 (2006.01); B64G 4/00 (2006.01); B64G 99/00 (2009.01); B64G 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC E21C 51/00 (2013.01) [B64G 4/00 (2013.01); B64G 99/00 (2022.08); E21C 37/16 (2013.01); B64G 2001/1071 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for mining permafrost on a lunar or Martian surface, the system comprising:
a rover vehicle configured to move about a surface having permafrost thereunder;
a trapping enclosure comprising a walled container with an enclosed upper surface integrated into the rover vehicle and configured for deployment and redeployment, in multiple mining positions;
a skirt connected to the trapping enclosure and configured to contact the surface and encircle a mining space at the multiple mining positions, thereby containing material released from the surface;
a radiant heating system integrated into the rover vehicle and configured to direct heat at the surface, provide heating, and penetrate the surface, thereby releasing at least ice from the surface;
the trapping enclosure further configured to cooperate with the skirt to enclose the mining volume and trap the ice;
an ice collection apparatus integrated into the rover vehicle such that the ice collection apparatus penetrates the trapping enclosure to collect the ice from within the mining volume above the surface at the multiple mining positions; and
a mobile ice storage container integrated into the rover vehicle and configured to accept the ice collected from the trapping enclosure and store the ice during movement of the rover vehicle.
 
15. A rover vehicle, comprising:
a trapping enclosure comprising a walled container with an enclosed upper surface configured for deployment and redeployment, in multiple mining positions on a surface having permafrost thereunder;
a skirt connected to the trapping enclosure and configured to contact the surface and encircle a mining space at the multiple mining positions, thereby containing material released from the surface;
a radiant heating system configured to direct heat at the surface, provide heating, and penetrate the surface, thereby releasing at least ice from the surface, the trapping enclosure further configured to cooperate with the skirt to enclose the mining volume and trap the ice;
an ice collection apparatus penetrating the trapping enclosure to collect the ice from within the mining volume above the surface at the multiple mining positions; and
a mobile ice storage container configured to accept the ice collected from the trapping enclosure and store the ice during movement of the rover vehicle.