Wednesday IAC 2019 GNF : ECOSYSTEM for Sustainable Space Exploration

In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) will be one of the most critical key technologies for sustainable space exploration because this could significantly reduce the cost of space exploration. Therefore the ISRU is the main theme in the latest architecture study in International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). Because the ISRU is very relevant to the technologies on the ground such as excavation, roving, drilling, resource prospecting, power generation, soil processing, electrolysis, liquefaction, etc., new space entities and non-space entities will have opportunities to participate by their own technologies. Also. the ISRU could enable commercial business opportunities by selling fuel in space.

At this forum, we will discuss how the ISRU will benefit to the overall mission and architecture, what is the challenge for the ISRU, how we can overcome the challenges, and what business opportunities can be foreseen.