NASA Plans to Lay Gas Pipeline at Moon's South Pole for Artemis Missions

NASA is exploring a groundbreaking initiative to enhance operations on the Moon with the proposed Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (L-SPoP). This project aims to revolutionize lunar surface activities by significantly reducing the costs and risks associated with oxygen transportation, which is crucial for sustaining long-term human missions under the Artemis program.

The Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, depends heavily on utilizing in-situ resources to minimize the need for supplies from Earth. Oxygen, essential for life support and rocket propulsion, is being extracted from lunar regolith and water ice through advanced technologies that NASA has already invested in. These oxygen extraction methods are expected to be demonstrated on a large scale as early as 2024, with the potential to support Artemis astronauts by 2026.

Currently, the extracted oxygen is stored in compressed gas tanks or liquefied in dewars, requiring transportation across the Moon's surface. However, this process is highly energy-intensive and costly due to the vast distances between resource extraction sites and lunar bases.

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The proposed L-SPoP system envisions a 5-kilometer pipeline that would transport oxygen gas from extraction sites to storage or liquefaction facilities near lunar habitats. This pipeline would be made from in-situ materials, primarily lunar aluminum, extracted from the Moon’s surface. The pipeline’s modular design would be adaptable, repairable, and sustainable, reducing reliance on Earth-based resources and minimizing operational costs.

Key features of the L-SPoP include:

• Robotic Construction and Repair: The pipeline would be built and maintained by robotic systems using regolith-derived metals.
• Oxygen Flow Rate: The system is designed to transport oxygen at a rate of approximately 2 kg per hour, enough to meet NASA's initial need of 10,000 kg of oxygen annually.
• Minimal Power Requirements: The pipeline would operate with low power demands, making it sustainable for long-term use.
• Long Lifespan: The pipeline is projected to last over 10 years, with high operational reliability, even in the harsh lunar environment.

NASA's plan for L-SPoP also includes using innovative materials such as lunar aluminum, which is abundant at the Moon’s South Pole, and applying a passivation coating to the interior of the pipe to prevent corrosion. Other materials, including iron and magnesium, will be considered during the design process.

The L-SPoP project represents a significant step toward creating a sustainable infrastructure for lunar operations. By reducing the costs and risks of oxygen transportation, NASA hopes to pave the way for a permanent human presence on the Moon, supporting both the Artemis program and future deep-space missions.