| CPC E21C 51/00 (2013.01) [B64G 4/00 (2013.01); C25B 1/04 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. An apparatus for collecting and processing water from lunar regolith, the apparatus comprising:
a robotic arm; and
a water extraction unit attached to the robotic arm, wherein the water extraction unit includes:
a collection cone comprising a wall, an apex, an inside surface, an outside surface, and an open base;
cooling channels in the wall or on the outside surface of the collection cone;
a scraper arm in contact with the inside surface of the collection cone and configured to remove water-based frost accumulated on the inside surface of the cone by scraping;
a collection receptacle configured to receive the water-based frost scraped from the inside surface of the cone; and
a microwave emitter at or near the apex of the collection cone and configured to beam microwave radiation through the open base of the collection cone.
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13. A lunar landing vehicle comprising:
a robotic arm attached at a first end to the lunar landing vehicle;
a water extraction unit attached to a second end, opposite the first end, of the robotic arm, wherein the water extraction unit includes
a scraper arm in contact with a surface of the water extraction unit and configured to remove water-based frost accumulated on the surface by scraping,
a collection receptacle configured to receive the water-based frost scraped from the surface, and
a microwave emitter configured to beam microwave radiation into an area of lunar surface below the water extraction unit; and
a lunar water processing system that includes
a distiller configured to receive, and to substantially remove impurities from, the water-based frost scraped from the surface of the water extraction unit to produce water; and
an electrolyzer configured to receive the water from the distiller and to produce gaseous oxygen and gaseous hydrogen by electrolysis of the water.
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17. A method for extracting water from lunar regolith, the method comprising:
extending a robotic arm to place a water extraction unit over the lunar regolith;
radiating the lunar regolith with microwave radiation;
cooling a surface of the water extraction unit to condense water-based frost on the surface;
scraping the surface of the water extraction unit to remove the water-based frost from the surface of the water extraction unit;
collecting the water-based frost removed from the surface of the water extraction unit;
retracting the robotic arm to place the water extraction unit in a position to offload the collected water-based frost into a distiller; and
producing water by using the distiller to substantially remove impurities from the water-based frost.
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