Mining of Lunar polar ice

The presence and properties of ice in permanently shadowed depressions near the Lunar poles can influence both the near and long-term prospects for Lunar exploration and development. Assuming that ice is present in the polar regolith, it will be important to understand how to extract it for beneficial use, as well as how to preserve it for scientific analysis. Two types of processes can be considered for removal of ice and concentration of water. In the first class of processes, energy is transported into the shadowed regions, ice is processed in-situ, and water is transported out of the cold trap. Alternatively, ice-containing regolith can be mined in the cold trap, transported outside the cold trap, and the ice extracted in a location with abundant solar energy. A series of conceptual implementations have been examined, and criteria have been developed for the selection of systems and subsystems for further study.